Picture Gallery

History

1942	1952	2002

The land that comprises Verity Park, the tennis courts, the recreation hall, swimming pool and clinic is a two block area in Parkhurst that could have been just another clump of houses. As Parkhurst grew in the 1930s it was clear that there was a need for some recreational facilities.

In 1937 the Johannesburg City Council looked at possible sites in Parkhurst and found that there were 2 empty blocks bounded by 5th/6th Aves and 12th/14th Sts and they they started buying the land for the grounds. They hoped to pay about £14 per stand and were shocked when African Realty Trust, who owned 16 of the 32 stands, wanted £100 each. After quite a bit of fuss, an independent valuation priced them at £53 and the Council eventually caved in and paid between £100-110 to all the owners.

In 1941 the Parkhurst Ratepayers Association requested that the park be named after Councillor HH Verity who had done a great deal of work in the suburb (HH Verity was the Deputy Mayor during WW2 and was especially interested in providing parks and open areas for the city).

It was only after the WW2 that the tennis courts and a soccer field were constructed. A resident said that even in the late 1940s, it was “just a playing field with swings and a big slide like a giraffe’s neck. 

Verity Park Recreation Centre was opened on 22 Apr 1967 by the Mayor. In 1974 work started on the Child Health Clinic which moved here from the NG Church in 10^th St. The library opened here in its new premises in 1994.

The New Plans

There have been several e-mails, letters to the press and comments made to us by park users about problems in our park that range from the dog pooh, vagrants, swimming pool, litter, etc. With this in mind the Parkhurst Village Residents Association has started a process of upgrading Verity Park. The initial phase will see the following happen:

• More park benches and trash bins installed (including some benches/tables for the card players and Friday evening party animals).

• Some permanent wooden posts sunk into the ground for use by the ball players which will free up the bins currently being used.

• A pick up your own pooh system that will include the provision of plastic bags from a dispenser.

• Employment of a care taker who will do a daily sweep for an hour to conduct regular bin cleaning, litter collection, picking up of dog pooh left by errant/forgetful/tardy dog owners and do some park maintenance.

• More regular sweeps by security companies and SAPS to discourage vagrants and vandals.

User Survey

Here are the results of the survey for the users of Verity Park. Verity Park comprises 2 Parkhurst blocks bounded by 5^th/6^th Aves and 12^th/14^th Sts and consists of a field, skateboard park, library, tennis courts & clubhouse, PO Boxes, ADT hut, recreation hall, clinic, swimming pool and public toilets.