Vaal Marina Waterfront Park gets safety upgrade

Work is underway at the Vaal Marina Waterfront as the Midvaal Parks Department relocates children’s play equipment to higher ground, improving safety at the popular community space. The intervention follows sustained high water levels at the Vaal Dam, which has remained above 100% capacity for more than a year. As a result, portions of the playground equipment were standing in water, raising concerns about the safety of children using the area.

The equipment is now being moved further away from the water’s edge, providing youngsters with a safer place to play while allowing families to continue enjoying the waterfront.

Midvaal Mayor Peter Teixeira believes Vaal Marina has significant potential as a recreational and tourism destination. “Vaal Marina is a hidden gem with enormous potential. We believe it can become a destination comparable to Hartbeespoort or Parys, and improving public spaces such as the waterfront is part of unlocking that potential,” said Teixeira.

Further improvements are also being considered, including the possible installation of outdoor gym equipment. The addition would bring the waterfront recreational area in line with other parks across Midvaal that offer facilities for both children and adults.

The work forms part of ongoing service delivery efforts in Ward 1 aimed at maintaining and improving public recreational spaces. MMC Mary-Anne Myburgh and the Midvaal Parks Department were acknowledged for their work in maintaining community facilities and responding to changing conditions at the waterfront.

Once the relocation is completed, families visiting Vaal Marina will have access to a safer playground positioned away from the dam’s high water level