FNBB Unveils P3 Million First Park
Kagiso Onkatswitse | Monday August 31, 2015 15:45
The park has been re-named First Park because of its adoption by FNB Botswana. The newly developed park will be open for use by the general public. It also encompasses playground for children.
FNBB Foundation invested more than P3 million in the refurbishment of the park gardens, mini football pitch, netball, volleyball and basketball courts. The investment included construction of the administration block and the maintenance of the facilities within the park.
During the launch, the park was already in full use by neighbourhood children who enjoyed playing football in the soft sand, or netball on the nicely paved court, while others swung on merry-go-rounds.
City Clerk Mpho Mathe says the partnership between FNBB started in 2011 when they co-signed the memorandum of agreement for the development of Tawana Park into a children’s play area.
“With time, the idea evolved and new ideas were infused over time and that changed the initial outlook of the original plan to what has been launched today,” said Mathe.
Mathe acknowledged that the park would help in revitalising the living space for Tawana community and thus giving the property around the park value. FNBB Foundation Trustee, Regina Vaka, proclaimed the initiative a landmark achievement for the community of Tawana.
She observed that the FNBB staff members also rolled their sleeves during the initial stage of the project by fencing the park with meshed and razor wire.
FNBB staff erected jungle gyms, created a walkway path between the playgrounds and a thatched gazebo with barbecue area. Seeing the potential of the project, the FNBB Foundation absorbed the project and continued the development to make the park bigger and better.
“We commit ourselves to honour and treasure this community park. Therefore, we pledge to maintain this park to be in this state forever throughout. You will be delighted to note that we have employed a full time facility caretaker for day-to-day running of and management of the park.
“We have also deployed a full time security services on the park, to ensure that there is no vandalism of the facilities,” said Vaka.
The CEO of FNBB, Steven Bogatsu, said the main objective was to give the community a comfortable facility for socialising, relaxation and play.
Bogatsu said FNBB was also answering the call from city council to develop the park. Through its staff volunteer programme, FNBB took an initiative to raise funds to develop the park for the community.
He said through FNBB Foundation, they would be sponsoring the maintenance, the security, park administration block and other necessary undertaking to keep the park in good condition.
He however urged members of the community to value the park as a property. He encouraged the neighbours to keep watch of the park to ensure that it remained secure and safer for use.
FNBB marketing and communications director, Bomolemo Selaledi, said that the infrastructure would give Batswana additional facilities for recreational activities in the city.
“We believe it will address the need of providing a place where the youth and children with their families can relax and take full advantage of the facilities to make it their place of entertainment,” Selaledi said.