Key Takeaways
- The Mitchell Park Zoo playground in Durban will remain closed through the 2025 and 2026 festive seasons due to a donor withdrawing from a planned refurbishment project
- The donor cited a lack of communication, transparency, and professionalism by municipal officials as the reason for withdrawing from the project
- The municipality is evaluating a new proposal from a local business to donate a world-class playground to replace the existing equipment
- The eThekwini Municipality has announced plans for a R1-billion amusement park along the Durban beachfront
- The closure of the playground has prompted calls for disciplinary action against municipal officials who handled the matter
Introduction to the Closure
The Mitchell Park Zoo playground in Durban, one of the city’s most popular playgrounds, will remain closed through the 2025 and 2026 festive seasons. This decision comes after a donor withdrew from a planned refurbishment project, citing a lack of communication, transparency, and professionalism by municipal officials. The news has been met with disappointment and frustration from the community, who were looking forward to the revamped playground. The closure has also prompted calls for disciplinary action against the officials who handled the matter, with Ward 27 councillor Ernest Smith saying that the issue has been raised with officials and requests for disciplinary processes have been made.
Background to the Refurbishment Project
The refurbishment project was initially proposed by a donor who approached the municipality in March 2025 to assist the Parks Department with refurbishing the playground. According to Smith, all required work was completed at no cost to the city, including groundwork, presentations, land surveying, and architectural drawings. However, despite the progress made, the donor ultimately withdrew from the project due to a lack of communication and transparency from municipal officials. Smith stated that he had been in communication with officials in the departments to try and get a timeframe on the project, but multiple emails yielded minimal results. The lack of engagement from officials, despite meetings and repeated follow-ups, led Smith to approach the city manager for help.
The Current State of Mitchell Park
Mitchell Park consists of four sections, including the Blue Zoo restaurant, which has been closed since 2021, and the park and zoo, which remain open. The playground, however, has been shut since April 2025. The closure of the playground has been a significant blow to the community, who rely on the park as a recreational space. The municipality has acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the closure and has apologized for the disruption. Municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilana stated that the city is evaluating a proposal by a local business to donate a world-class playground to replace the existing equipment. The proposal aligns with broader precinct planning for Mitchell Park and would allow the municipality to redirect funds to other pressing community needs.
The Municipality’s Response
The eThekwini Municipality has announced plans for a R1-billion amusement park along the Durban beachfront, which has raised questions about the prioritization of projects within the municipality. The closure of the Mitchell Park playground has highlighted the need for greater transparency and communication between municipal officials and the community. Sisilana stated that all major donations must follow the appropriate protocols, and the proposal for the new playground is being evaluated accordingly. The municipality has acknowledged the need to improve its communication and engagement with the community, particularly in relation to projects that affect public spaces and recreational facilities.
The Way Forward
The closure of the Mitchell Park playground is a setback for the community, but it also presents an opportunity for the municipality to re-evaluate its priorities and engage more effectively with the public. The proposal for a new playground, donated by a local business, offers a potential solution to the current situation. However, it is essential that the municipality learns from the mistakes of the past and ensures that the new project is handled with greater transparency and communication. The community will be watching closely to see how the municipality responds to this situation and whether it can deliver on its promises to provide quality recreational facilities. Ultimately, the goal should be to create a world-class playground that meets the needs of the community and provides a safe and enjoyable space for children to play.
