Battery Park is a new urban park that forms the gateway to the V&A Waterfront. When it is completed in October 2018, it will integrate Cape Town’s CBD and the V&A Waterfront through a series of pedestrian routes, including one alongside the canal. Visitors to the park will also be able to engage in a range of outdoor recreation, entertainment and retail activities in various levels of public spaces.
The 12,000 m2 (approx. 1.2 hectare) park forms part of the V&A Waterfront’s Canal District and can be accessed from either Dock Road, Fort Road, Ebenezer Road or Alfred Street. A four-story public parking facility is constructed beneath the park with entrances via Alfred Street or Dock Road. When it is complete the parking facility will offer 1206 bays for public, residential and tenant use.
The V&A Waterfront will be responsible for all security, cleaning and maintenance of the park.
Each area of the park contains public walking paths and benches. Landscaping consists of waterwise fynbos and other indigenous plants and trees. A combination of rainwater harvesting and greywater is used to maintain the plants.
Amsterdam Battery
The site is of archaelogical importance as it still contains the rear ramparts of the historical Amsterdam Battery, one of the oldest structures in Cape Town. Archaelogical digs of the area were undertaken prior to construction of the park, and they uncovered the two circular walls which have been retained.
The Amsterdam Battery was constructed by the Dutch in 1784 on the site of an earlier fort (dating back to 1781) to defend Table Bay Harbour from attack, particularly from enemy ships.
In 1827 the Battery was converted by the British to house prisoners from the Eastern Cape Frontier wars.
The Battery was substantially remodelled by the British in 1882 and strengthened in 1879 with surplus
material from the Breakwater quarry. In 1898 it was disbanded. It was partially demolished in 1905 to make way for the harbour and railway network extensions into the dock area.
To accentuate the look and feel of the old Battery, stone-filled gabian walls have been used throughout the park.
Canal
Battery Park will host a range of water sport activities from standup paddling to kayaking and swimming. The canal also provides a link between the V&A Waterfront and the Cape Town International Convention Centre through water taxis that ferry passengers between both points.
Piazza
The Piazza forms one of the levels of the park. It comprises of retail outlets, pedestrian paths, benches, gardens. Stairs leading down from the Piazza give visitors access to the canal, from where they can watch water activities or simply meander along the water’s edge.
Park
The elevated park area offers views across the V&A Waterfront and the surrounding city streets. The park is fully accessible to disabled visitors.
Youth activities and children’s playground
This family friendly area will consist of a jungle gym, swings, rocking horses and a scooter path. It will also comprise of outdoor recreational activities for teenagers as well.
Retail
The Piazza is home to a niche companies offering specialist services as well as food and beverage retailers.
Events and activities
A pavillion similar to the Amphitheatre will offer some shelter from the wind and will host entertainment periodically.
A few other things to do include:
- Find the perfect spot for a picnic.
- Grab friends and come spend the day stand-up paddling along the canal.
- Start your fitness run from here….grab a cup of coffee nearby.
- Grab a bike and cycle through the city. Enjoy an after work game of basketball on the court.
V&A Waterfront’s vision for the park
David Green, V&A Waterfront CEO said: “A key objective of the V&A Waterfront has always been to re-establish the connection between the city and the sea, which we have achieved with the pedestrian path that runs alongside the Canal. Equally important, the ruins of the historic Amsterdam Battery have been retained in the Park as a new heritage site. A key focus of the development was also to offer views of the Waterfront and surrounding CBD, as well as retain and enhance the historically important line of sight between the Battery and the Noon Day gun site on Signal Hill. Our overarching vision though, was to provide a functional, convenient, comfortable, safe and unrestricted space with recreational activities for all age groups.”
ONE DESTINATION, SIX UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES
There is no one way to explore all of the Cape Town Big 6, and much of what makes each of them so special is the variety of things to see and do at each. So if possible, take your time to explore each of the city’s most visited tourist attractions in as much depth as possible – as any local will tell you, you can spend a lifetime at each of the Big 6 and still not tire of them. Find the 3 and 4 day itineraries and tips here.