A public park in Milnerton where the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu spent time walking and interacting with residents is set to be transformed into a memorial space in his honour.
The City of Cape Town launched the project on Thursday alongside Tutu’s widow, Leah Tutu. The park, situated on Lupin Crescent in the neighbourhood where the couple lived for decades, will be named Tutu Memorial Park.
Construction is expected to begin soon, with the project scheduled for completion within six months.
Leah Tutu, 92, attended the launch and was welcomed into the space in a wheelchair. The area has personal significance for the Tutu family, with Archbishop Tutu known to have regularly walked through the neighbourhood, picked up litter and stopped to speak to local children.
The upgraded park is expected to become a shared community space, with plans for a children’s play area, dog park, amphitheatre and flower garden.
Speaking at the launch, Leah Tutu welcomed the planned transformation and said the changes would make the space warmer and more inviting.
She also marked the occasion by leading those gathered in three cheers for Milnerton.
The memorial park will serve both as a tribute to Archbishop Tutu and as a public space for the Milnerton community, reflecting the connection he maintained with the neighbourhood during his lifetime.
