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RECREATION FEATURE

Closed off lanes, reduced parking spaces and bike racks in this non-motorised
zone created by the New York Parks Department provide additional outdoor
spaces for city dwellers to enjoy Hiking in nature is a therapeutic activity. This is the Dolphin Trail in Tsitsikama

municipalities should embark on an urban leisure science academic stream, post-grad in South Africa and internationally.
greening program to improve access for student supervision and improved quality She recently designed and implemented
people who cannot afford to travel great assurance in teaching and learning. an inter-generational park in Durban, a
distances to spend time in nature. Her research interests include collaborative effort between LARASA, a
Municipalities in South Africa need to leisure, health, wellbeing, social justice, private company and the Ethekwini Parks and
achieve long term sustainability of parks youth development, community and Recreation Department. n
and recreation facilities by establishing environmental sustainability, older adults,
partnerships with the private sector, non- park and playground design. She has served Information and photos supplied by Maliga
profit organisations and experts in the on a variety of boards and committees both Naidoo.
field of landscape architecture, design and
recreation to transform public spaces for the
public good.
About Maliga Naidoo
Since 1997, Ms Naidoo has been actively
involved in advocating for leisure and
recreation as a human right in order to
promote healthy lifestyles. Focus areas
include improving health and wellbeing in
communities through carefully designed and
sustainable recreation and leisure spaces.
She has worked within the non-
governmental sector and the public service,
advocating for resources and opportunities
to develop parks and open spaces to promote
healthy living. In addition, she has fostered
networks with international organisations to
strengthen relationships through research
and conferencing.
Between 2001 and 2010, she was a
consultant with SAQA (South African
Qualifications Authority) and generated
recreation and leisure qualifications from
NQF Levels 4 to 6. As a lecturer at UKZN
Westville Campus (2007-2014), she served as
its academic co-ordinator, generating a new An inter-generational park in Durban n

Landscape SA • Issue 121 2023 19