Thank heavens for the forefathers of Johannesburg.
Thank heavens for them.
It is with the greatest appreciation that we can thank them for creating the green space of Delta Park in Johannesburg.
Why would I say this? It’s because it’s the most wonderful place you can go to in Johannesburg — for serenity, for peace, for tranquility, for exercise, whatever you want. Delta Park is the place. Thank heavens for the forefathers of Johannesburg who created Delta Park.
If you go down to Delta Park today and visit any part of it, you’ll be amazed. Yes, people are worried about crime and muggings, but when I went there, I saw the most incredible social capital. There were several women walking on their own at midday, all looking happy and relaxed. There were some men too — some on cycles, one man walking a dog. But it just goes to show the social capital.
Thank heavens — I repeat — for the forefathers of Johannesburg who had the foresight to create this amazing green land, with amazing trees. And the way it is kept is unbelievable.
A Return After Time Away
Now, I’m focusing today on Delta Park because of my recent visit. I hadn’t been there for more than two years, and that’s why I’ve come back with such amazement and gratitude for Delta Park.
I must tell you: people who live in Johannesburg today — young and old — can thank the forefathers of Johannesburg not only for Delta Park, which is amazing, but for everything else too. The infrastructure. The roads. The buildings. The administration. The waterworks. The power. Every single thing.
Those people who invested in Johannesburg — who made the Carlton Centre into a great international hotel, and who built other fabulous hotels — all of that investment is unbelievable. The universities too — there are two universities in Johannesburg. I can’t even begin to think of everything that went into creating this city. It was so much money, so much effort, and so much belief in the future.
It really makes one proud to think of the history of Johannesburg and all those people who helped build it up. It’s amazing.
Let’s get back to the green belt of Johannesburg, and that is Delta Park.
Picnic, Nature, and Balance
I went there the other day for a picnic, and when you’re reunited with a place after more than two and a half years, you feel it deeply. I must say, I was absolutely grateful and had a real sense of awe and wonder being in that park.
I was glad it wasn’t fully mowed yet because there had been heavy rains. In some places, the council had come in and mowed some of the grass, but it looked so natural in its ruffled-up state — especially after a storm, with broken twigs lying around, pieces of branches scattered here and there.
We had our picnic in a place that is quite hidden away. It’s very small and not really an official picnic area, but the residents in the adjoining properties look after it very well. I always love going there, and I especially love going there after returning from a holiday at the coast — to find a tranquil space where I can really balance myself out again.
A friend of mine, Alfie Caplen, once gave me a book on Marcus Aurelius. There was a quote in it saying that you can go anywhere — to the sea, the mountains, or the countryside — but the place to really find peace and tranquility is within yourself, wherever you are.
I saw that quote slightly differently. I felt that wherever you are in nature, any type of nature, you can find tranquility, peace, and harmony. Nature is a great healer.
And for me, in Johannesburg, Delta Park is that place.
A Park for Everyone
We can thank our forefathers for building — or rather, creating — this amazing green space in the city of Johannesburg. It’s available to everyone. It attracts foreign tourists. It’s a haven for people who enjoy outdoor sports such as jogging, running, and cycling. There are plenty of cycling trails.
It’s wonderful for mothers with their children during school holidays, exploring Delta Park together. Children having so much fun. It’s a special place for those who have many years behind them and who can come and enjoy the peace and tranquility of Delta Park throughout the year.
The Seasons of Delta Park
I remember going to Delta Park in winter — beautiful walks.
I remember how I couldn’t wait for spring, to spread out a blanket near the dam and catch the spring sun.
Then there are the summer walks, with the butterflies and the birds, the swallows swirling in the air, and a giant hawk overhead.
And in autumn, walking through the fields of cosmos splashed in pinks and reds and whites.
Oh man — it’s really fantastic. It’s amazing.
Gratitude, Always
I can only thank the forefathers of Johannesburg who had the incredible insight to provide this green lung. Thanks to those in the city who maintain the park whether it be the council, the organisations affiliated to Delta Park and the interested and concerned citizens.
Thank heavens for our forefathers — for their insight, foresight, investment, hard work, and vision — to make this a truly fantastic place where one can really commune with nature.
It is truly amazing.
DELTA PARK, JOHANNESBURG — EXTENDED FACT BOX
OFFICIAL NAME
Delta Park
CITY & CONTEXT
Johannesburg, South Africa
Northern suburbs of the city
Widely regarded as one of Johannesburg’s most important urban green lungs
ORIGIN & HISTORICAL LAYERS
Original Use
Delta Park was originally developed as the site of the Delta Sewage Disposal Works, a large municipal infrastructure project designed to manage Johannesburg’s rapidly expanding northward sewage needs during the early 20th century.
Construction & Operation
• Construction commenced: October 1933
• Foundation stone laid: July 1934
• Official opening: April 1935
• Operational period: 1935 – June 1963
At the time of its opening, the Delta Sewage Disposal Works represented cutting-edge urban engineering. It introduced the activated sludge sewage treatment system, the first of its kind in South Africa, marking a major leap forward in public health and sanitation technology.
Engineering Leadership
• Dr Ernest John Hamlin — City Engineer, project lead
• Supporting engineers included B.L. Loffell, H. Wilson, E.G. White, and J.R. Gaillard
TRANSFORMATION INTO A PARK
After the closure of the sewage works in 1963:
• The site was transferred to Johannesburg Parks and Recreation
• Large-scale rehabilitation began during the 1970s
• The area was gradually reshaped into a public park rather than being redeveloped
Environmental Revival
• Norman Bloom, environmentalist and philanthropist, was instrumental in saving the site
• He prevented demolition of the main building
• In 1978, the building reopened as the Delta Environmental Centre
• The Florence Bloom Bird Sanctuary was established in 1975 by Norman Bloom and his brothers in memory of their mother
Norman Bloom is widely considered the founding father of Delta Park in its modern recreational and environmental form.
THE ART DECO CONTROL BUILDING
Date of Construction
1934
Original Purpose
Main Control Block of the Delta Sewage Disposal Works
Architectural Style
Industrial Art Deco / Machine Age Modernism
Why It’s Significant
This building is a rare example of municipal infrastructure designed as high architecture — a reflection of Johannesburg’s 1930s confidence, ambition, and belief in modernity.
Design Characteristics
• Strong horizontal lines and streamlined geometry
• Rounded corners typical of 1930s Art Deco
• Vertical window bands creating an illusion of height
• Central staircase tower reminiscent of an ocean liner funnel
• Raised plaster signage in geometric Art Deco typography
• Decorative water-themed plaster details on parapet walls
Cultural Status
• Heritage-protected structure
• Marked with a Johannesburg City Heritage Blue Plaque (installed 2013)
• One of the city’s most striking surviving Art Deco civic buildings
Current Function
• Houses the Delta Environmental Centre
• Educational exhibitions
• Former treatment tanks reused as display spaces
• A unique example of a building completing a full lifecycle:
industrial ? abandoned ? restored ? environmental sanctuary
TOTAL SIZE & SCALE
Overall Area
• Approximately 104–108 hectares
• Equivalent to 1.04–1.08 square kilometres
• Approximately 257–267 acres
Perspective on Size
• Comparable to over 100 full-size international rugby fields
• One of the largest continuous public parks within Johannesburg’s urban fabric
• Significantly larger than it feels due to varied terrain and changing vistas
LENGTH, WIDTH & SHAPE (DETAILED)
Overall Length
• Approximately 2 kilometres from south (upstream) to north (downstream)
Width
• Highly variable due to natural landscape:
• Narrowest sections: ± 500 metres
• Widest sections: close to 1 kilometre
Shape
• Long, irregular, ribbon-like form
• Closely follows the curves of the Braamfontein Spruit
• The park never feels rectangular or formal
• The changing width creates a sense of discovery and expansiveness
Why the Park Feels Bigger Than It Is
• Rolling topography limits long sightlines
• Trees, dams, and valleys break visual continuity
• Paths curve rather than run straight
• The park reveals itself gradually as you move through it
TOPOGRAPHY & LANDSCAPE
• Grasslands and open meadows
• Mature indigenous and alien tree stands
• Wetlands and multiple dams
• Gentle slopes and low ridges
• Stream valleys shaped by the Braamfontein Spruit
BOUNDARIES & GEOGRAPHY
Southern Boundary (Upstream)
• Near Rustenburg Road
• Adjacent to Victory Park and Roosevelt Park
• Close to:
• Florence Bloom Bird Sanctuary
• Keith Fleming Park
• Johannesburg Botanical Gardens and Emmarentia Dam (just upstream)
Northern Boundary (Downstream)
• Near Pitcairn Road and Penelope Avenue
• Borders Bordeaux Riverside Park
THE BRAAMFONTEIN SPRUIT
Flow Direction
• Originates in southern Johannesburg (Parktown/Braamfontein area)
• Flows northward through Delta Park
• Continues through:
• Craighall Park
• Hyde Park
• Bryanston
• Joins the Jukskei River near Paulshof
Relationship to Delta Park
• Delta Park occupies a specific, defined section
• It is not the entire Braamfontein Spruit Trail
• The longer trail extends well beyond the park boundaries
RECREATION & DAILY USE
Activities
• Walking and hiking
• Jogging and running
• Cycling (key node in the JoziTrails network)
• Dog walking
• Birdwatching
• Picnicking
• Informal recreation and reflection
User Groups
• Families and children
• Elderly residents
• Solo walkers and runners
• Cyclists
• Tourists and visitors
SEASONAL CHARACTER
• Winter: Clear air, long views, crisp walks
• Spring: Wildflowers, fresh grass, picnic season
• Summer: Butterflies, swallows, raptors, lush growth
• Autumn: Cosmos fields in pinks, reds, and whites
CURRENT STATUS & PROTECTION
Management
• Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo
• Supported by active community groups (e.g. Delta Users Committee)
Development
• No approved commercial or residential development
• Protected under Johannesburg’s Spatial Development Framework 2040
Environmental Importance
• Bird sanctuaries
• Wetlands
• Ecological corridor within an urban setting
WHY DELTA PARK MATTERS
Delta Park is:
• A reclaimed industrial site turned public sanctuary
• A fusion of engineering history, Art Deco architecture, and ecology
• One of Johannesburg’s most democratic public spaces
• A lasting testament to foresight, investment, and vision
It remains one of the city’s greatest inheritances — a place where history, nature, and everyday life coexist at scale.
