The newly-formed Hillcrest Park Community Association (HPCA) might have come together due to negative circumstances, but have a very positive and proactive outlook and approach.
They are taking a no-nonsense, no excuses hard-line approach and it’s working. Within weeks the group has grown from a handful to a residential critical mass, adding more each week – the goal being all of Hillcrest Park.
Whilst crime was an initial focus and still remains high on the agenda, HPCA believes that the root cause is social dysfunction in the area and this is reinforced by resident apathy. Litter, graffiti, drinking and urinating in public, drugs and the increasing problem of loitering with intent all lead to an environment conducive to crime. The group’s message is simple: “Neighbours doing it for themselves – taking back their community one street at a time.”
Following this theme, and as caring neighbours aiming towards a “cleaner and safer” environment, a special project team of 40 resident members came together on Heritage Day, 24 September to clean up the Rail Reserve adjacent to Christians Village Centre.
Pick ‘n Pay agreed to sponsor some of the clean-up consumables, the rest being supplied by the residents themselves, with selfless commitment to the greater good. The youngest member of the team was a mere 10 months old and the eldest over 80, proving age doesn’t matter.
The clean-up netted some 130 bags of rubbish, collected over 500m of rail reserve! Future projects are already in the planning, including an anti-graffiti initiative supported most notably by resident business Plascon Paint Expert.
Hillcrest Park Neighbourhood Watch believes that at least half of the problem can be resolved simply with everyone’s “eyes and ears”. They are looking for more interested and committed residents to join the initiative.
Contact Jayne on 0836501238 or at lyle-pieters@telkomsa.net, alternatively comment or register at www.HPNW.co.za
