Facelift for square in heart of Paarl
2007-07-26
Anne Kruger
THE Van der Lingen Square next to Paarl’s Toringkerk is to undergo a major facelift and will become a paid parking area by Christmas.
The project started last week with the removal of the deteriorating tipuana and bluegum trees on the square.
The old tennis court surface is to be removed and the whole square will be paved with buff coloured pebble bricks, including the unpaved section to the south (the parking area behind the Toringkerk).
Other finishes will be grey cobblestones and kerbs reminiscent of Paarl granite.
A large number of semi-adult trees (white stinkwood and Turkish oak - quercus ceris) will be planted as part of the landscaping of the area, restoring the avenue leading down from Main Street to the Paarl Museum. These trees will be sizable, delivered in 100 litre bags.
The project is a joint undertaking by the Paarl CBD Improvement Project incorporating local landowners and the Municipality.
There will be three controlled access points to the square (Main Street, Van der Lingen Street and New Street) and parking will be paid for at a ticket machine.
The gate in Main Street next to the Toringkerk will be closed. It will be opened only for services and other church events like weddings.
In front of the garden wall of Paarl Museum (once the parsonage of Rev van der Lingen) a water furrow will recall the days when the mill stream ran past the museum. A small footbridge will cross the furrow at the museum gate.
Van der Lingen was minister of the Strooidakkerk from 1832. An archeologist will be present during the excavation of the tennis court and other areas.
It is hoped that the upgrading of the square will improve tourism to the area, and provision is made for parking for tourist buses.
Work will be undertaken in phases, so that there are always two access points to the square to allow for traffic flow.
The landscaping of the project is handled by Viridian, and Africon is the engineering consultant.
The project has been approved by the Paarl Aesthetics Committee (Akso) and Western Cape Heritage.
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