The Edwardian De Waal Park gazebo, originally built for the Cape Town Exhibition in Green Point between 1904 and 1905, was restored to its former glory earlier this month.
Since its relocation to De Waal Park, it has served as a stage for local performers to showcase their talent for several decades, adding to the park’s historical significance.
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Speaking to the People’s Post, Francine Higham, the Ward 77 councillor, revealed that the restoration efforts encompassed more than just the bandstand itself. It also involved the rectification of the damaged wall on Upper Orange Street, which had sustained damage in a collision with a bus two years ago.
Higham expressed her satisfaction, stating, ‘I am pleased to announce that the upgrade and restoration work on the beautiful bandstand at De Waal Park has been completed. We have also completed the repairs to the wall that was hit by a MyCiTi bus in August 2021. Both projects have been completed to Heritage Western Cape standards.’
Higham extended special acknowledgement to Zunaid Allie, the superintendent for recreation and parks in Ward 77, for his diligent efforts in bringing this project to fruition since joining their team the previous year. She also thanked the Friends of De Waal Park for their patience and unwavering support throughout the duration of these endeavours.
Higham emphasised the bandstand’s treasured status within the park, noting, ‘We are hoping that the bandstand will be well-utilised by the community for gatherings and events, such as yoga or dance classes, for example. We are also looking at some flexible, folding seating options. If people are interested in using this space, then they can contact me for details about applying for an event permit.’
Mike Bosazza, Chair of the Friends of De Waal Park, revealed that their advocacy for the revitalization of both the bandstand and the damaged wall spanned several years. Established in 2008 by local residents, the Friends of De Waal Park dedicated themselves to enhancing the 126-year-old public park and its historical significance in Oranjezicht. They achieved this through regular cleaning initiatives and maintenance undertakings.
Bosazza commended the precision with which the wall was repaired, predicting that the restoration would render the damage virtually indistinguishable, an achievement that he found truly remarkable considering the wall’s origin in the early 1900s.
Expressing his excitement, he said, ‘The bandstand is beautifully restored, much as it was in 1904. It is going to be so usable. The exciting part is that the bandstand becomes an asset in the park and something that people can enjoy. We are hoping to put some tables and chairs there so that you can sit and enjoy your coffee.’
Bosazza underscored the park’s widespread use by numerous individuals and emphasised the importance of maintaining such historical assets.
He commented, ‘They did a fine job. We are pleased. It is not only for concerts. The other day, people were doing yoga there. The park is historic, and you need to look after your assets.’
Higham revealed that additional refurbishment initiatives are already in the pipeline, sharing, ‘Looking ahead, we have some other exciting maintenance projects planned for De Waal Park in this financial year, including the repair of paved walkways, resurfacing of tarred walkways and paths, repairs to other sections of the wall, and upgrades to the play equipment.’
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