Sixteen thousand community “parkrunners” have been forced out of Buffalo City Metro’s Nahoon Point reserve.
Eastern Cape regional director of eight parkrun events Bob Norris said BCM was demanding a R511 event fee for each of the Saturday 5km runs.
As a result, the popular Nahoon event is now moving to Beacon Bay.
Parkrun, an 11-year-old international community movement, was founded on the ethic that the event should be free, said Norris.
In response to correspondence from parkrun on the matter, BCM chief of marine services Siani Tinley wrote: “We are also sorry we are not able to defer from the national and local legislation that relations between the reserve and parkrun could continue. We both appreciate there is a loss on both sides and that we have both done what is in our authority to find a solution.
“I wish the event luck in the new venue.
“We will remain approachable in case any circumstances change which will enable the return of the event to any of BCM’s amenities.”
At the time of writing yesterday, BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi was still preparing a response to Dispatch questions.
Norris accused Tinley of “hiding behind the statutes”, saying she had not raised a legal aspect with them in meetings.
SA parkrun manager and nine-times Comrades Marathon winner Bruce Fordyce slammed BCM.
“It is an absolute disgrace and embarrassment for BCM to be the only local authority in the world to demand money for its citizens to be able to exercise,” he said.
“Parkrun is the biggest, fastest-growing recreational event in the world. There are more than 20 million parkrunners taking part in 772 parkruns. At not one single parkrun anywhere in the world has any authority asked for money.
“It is because parkrun does the work they have been tasked with – that of making the community healthier and happier.
“They beg parkrun to come. This is about to go out on the newsletter and it will be read all around the world. I am gobsmacked.”
Norris said the Nahoon parkrun was the most integrated of 72 parkruns in South Africa.
“It is extremely sad for BCM and for tourism.
“We have in the past had tourists from around the globe who come to do the Nahoon parkrun.
“It was on their wish list.”
Nahoon parkrun event director Annamarie Acton announced on Facebook: “It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce that Saturday 17 October 2015 will be our last parkrun at the current venue.”
The run moves to a course around Beacon Bay on October 24 at 8am. — mikel@dispatch.co.za
Fordyce slams BCM for ‘disgraceful’ parkrun fee
Eastern Cape regional director of eight parkrun events Bob Norris said BCM was demanding a R511 event fee for each of the Saturday 5km runs.
As a result, the popular Nahoon event is now moving to Beacon Bay.
Parkrun, an 11-year-old international community movement, was founded on the ethic that the event should be free, said Norris.
In response to correspondence from parkrun on the matter, BCM chief of marine services Siani Tinley wrote: “We are also sorry we are not able to defer from the national and local legislation that relations between the reserve and parkrun could continue. We both appreciate there is a loss on both sides and that we have both done what is in our authority to find a solution.
“I wish the event luck in the new venue.
“We will remain approachable in case any circumstances change which will enable the return of the event to any of BCM’s amenities.”
At the time of writing yesterday, BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi was still preparing a response to Dispatch questions.
Norris accused Tinley of “hiding behind the statutes”, saying she had not raised a legal aspect with them in meetings.
SA parkrun manager and nine-times Comrades Marathon winner Bruce Fordyce slammed BCM.
“It is an absolute disgrace and embarrassment for BCM to be the only local authority in the world to demand money for its citizens to be able to exercise,” he said.
“Parkrun is the biggest, fastest-growing recreational event in the world. There are more than 20 million parkrunners taking part in 772 parkruns. At not one single parkrun anywhere in the world has any authority asked for money.
“It is because parkrun does the work they have been tasked with – that of making the community healthier and happier.
“They beg parkrun to come. This is about to go out on the newsletter and it will be read all around the world. I am gobsmacked.”
Norris said the Nahoon parkrun was the most integrated of 72 parkruns in South Africa.
“It is extremely sad for BCM and for tourism.
“We have in the past had tourists from around the globe who come to do the Nahoon parkrun.
“It was on their wish list.”
Nahoon parkrun event director Annamarie Acton announced on Facebook: “It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce that Saturday 17 October 2015 will be our last parkrun at the current venue.”
The run moves to a course around Beacon Bay on October 24 at 8am. — mikel@dispatch.co.za
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