COMMUNITY SUPPORT STATEMENT

We, the undersigned, proudly support the work of The Fortis Collective and the meaningful impact it is having on the wellbeing, safety and connection of individuals and families within our community.

This initiative began in 2025 when the founders purchased a home adjacent to the Lynnwood Pine Forest. What initially drew our attention to the forest was not its potential, but its problems. The park was increasingly being misused, poorly maintained and avoided by much of the surrounding community. The presence of vagrants, overgrown areas, litter and a general lack of care had created an environment that many residents no longer felt comfortable using.

Rather than simply accepting this as the state of our local public space, The Fortis Collective decided to do something about it.

What started as a personal decision to show up differently in our community has grown into a much larger community led initiative. Over the past eight months, The Fortis Collective has invested its own funds, time and resources into caring for and activating the forest, with the aim of encouraging the community to return, use the space responsibly and take pride in protecting it.

The transformation has been remarkable.

To date, more than 150 free community activities have been hosted and over 3,000 people have been welcomed back into a space that many had previously been too uncomfortable or fearful to use. Families who once drove past now stop and spend time there. Children have access to a place to play and explore outdoors. Residents have found somewhere to walk, connect, meet their neighbours and simply enjoy being outside.

Most importantly, the forest is no longer simply a neglected piece of public land. It has become a place that people recognise as belonging to the community and worth caring for.

The Fortis Collective is a registered non profit organisation (2025/074719/08) committed to demonstrating how underutilised public spaces can be transformed through consistent community involvement, care and responsible use.

This is particularly important in a city such as Tshwane, where numerous public parks and green spaces face challenges including underuse, neglect, vandalism and antisocial activity. When public spaces are left empty and uncared for, they can become places that communities avoid. When people are encouraged to return, take ownership and care for them, their purpose can begin to change.

The experience at Lynnwood Pine Forest demonstrates that meaningful change does not necessarily begin with large infrastructure projects or significant municipal expenditure. It can begin with people who care enough to take responsibility for a shared space and encourage others to do the same.

We believe Lynnwood Pine Forest can become more than a local success story. It has the potential to demonstrate a practical, community led approach that could eventually be adapted for other underutilised public spaces across Tshwane and, potentially, South Africa.

This petition represents a growing community that has experienced first hand what is possible when people come together to care for a shared environment.

We therefore respectfully call on Councillor Pieter van Heerden to support The Fortis Collective's City of Tshwane Adopt a Spot application to officially adopt Denneboom Park (Lynnwood Pine Forest).

We believe formalising this partnership would allow The Fortis Collective to continue the work already underway, strengthen community ownership of the space, encourage responsible use and help ensure that this important public green space remains welcoming, cared for and accessible to the whole community.

We believe that a park that is used, cared for and valued by its community is far less likely to be forgotten.

We proudly support The Fortis Collective and its application to Adopt a Spot.