The man who transformed a Johannesburg park from a crime-ridden wilderness to a true gem

Tucked in the heart of Johannesburg, a city often struggling with decay and disconnection, The Wilds Nature Reserve has quietly become one of its most inspiring revival stories. 

Once an overgrown, forgotten 40-acre patch of land that most people avoided, it now ranks as the city’s top park, attracting more than 10,000 visitors each month. 

With lush greenery, surprising wildlife, art installations, and sweeping views, The Wilds has become a true gem in the middle of the city.

This is thanks to artist James Delaney, who led the charge and helped to turn the once-forgotten park into a vibrant public space through years of hard work and community involvement.

When Johannesburg was established in 1886, the land now known as The Wilds was originally part of J.J. Grobler’s portion of the Klipfontein farm. 

Situated near the Witwatersrand watershed, the area was rocky and barren, with the Sandspruit River flowing through its kloof. 

In 1889, the Houghton Syndicate bought the land in hopes of finding gold but came up empty. Ownership later passed to the Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Company (JCI), founded by mining magnate Barney Barnato.

Seeing its potential as a quiet refuge from the chaos of the mines, JCI began developing the surrounding suburb of Houghton in 1896. 

As part of their efforts to attract wealthy residents, JCI donated land for schools and, in 1924, gave the original portion of The Wilds to the city as a public park.

Following the 1936 Empire Exhibition in Johannesburg, indigenous plants showcased at the event were moved to The Wilds, which was then reserved for native flora. 

In 1950, the park was dedicated to Jan Smuts, with a commemorative plaque quoting Virgil: “Blessed too is he who learned to know the Gods of The Wilds.”

The park has also been linked to political figures like Bram Fischer and Violet Weinberg, who wanted to garden there and held Communist gatherings in the park in the 1950s and ’60s, respectively. 

Water features were added in the 1950s, and a striking pedestrian bridge was built in 1965. A year later, JCI gifted greenhouses to mark its 75th anniversary.

The reserve is split into two sections, the East and West sides. It is separated by the main road, Houghton Drive, but a pedestrian bridge connects the two sides.

By the late 1990s, going into the 2000s, the park had fallen into neglect and developed a reputation for crime, keeping visitors away.

Turning the tide

Speaking at a TedX Talk, Delaney said the restoration journey began a decade ago after he moved into a Killarney apartment overlooking The Wilds. At that time, the park was so desolate, nobody went there. 

His daily walks with his dog, Pablo, a Labrador Retriever cross, became the unlikely catalyst for change. “I thought, this is crazy that I live next to this big green space and I can’t go there.”

Armed with clippers and a newfound purpose, he began venturing into the park, describing his discovery of “this Wonderland, like this enchanted forest”. 

What started as a solo endeavour of trimming and fixing soon grew. Friends joined, staff were employed, and every weekend, work continued: seeding, planting, separating plants, and repairing old infrastructure. 

The park, nearly a century old, revealed hidden lakes, ponds, waterfalls, and bridges. 

As the overgrowth was cleared, nature began to recover, with indigenous plants thriving under the renewed light and rain.

Delaney signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with City Parks, which brought in more staff. 

The Wilds is currently being maintained by Delaney and several other volunteers, as well as Johannesburg City Parks and Zoos.  “At first, I started working on the park by myself because, at the time, I didn’t know who to contact for assistance. I eventually contacted JCPZ and explained what I was doing.”

Delaney’s art and volunteers

Yet, despite the visible improvements, The Wilds still suffered from a “fearsome reputation,” making it difficult to convince friends to visit.

Recognising the need to shift public perception, Delaney, an artist, turned to his creativity. 

He turned charcoal drawings of native animals into sculptures and painted them in bright colours. 

On Mandela Day in 2017, he installed 67 owl sculptures in the forest, honouring Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of public service.

The impact was immediate and profound. “I clearly remember that day because the car park was full and I’d never seen anything like that before,” said Delaney.

Families flocked to the “Owl Forest,” with children screaming with delight as they counted them. This installation became an attraction in itself, demonstrating that “art can play a strong role in reimagining public space”.

Encouraged, Delaney expanded the artistic interventions, adding a kudu sculpture and a life-sized pink giraffe visible from the road, enticing people to explore further. 

Delaney realised that sculptures did more than add beauty. They encouraged visitors to move through the entire park, helping to make it feel safer. 

“What we needed was regular visitors all over the park to activate the whole space,” he says. 

Today, new sculptures are still added regularly. There are no maps or guides; it is up to visitors to find them.

Volunteers also played a major role in transforming the park. A Facebook group launched early on quickly gained momentum, growing to 10,000 members in just a few months. 

It became a way to connect with the wider community and bring their skills and enthusiasm into the park.

4,000 volunteers have contributed over the years, helping to create a strong sense of public ownership. “I believe that has changed the culture around The Wilds,” said Delaney. 

“You can walk through late on a Sunday afternoon after a busy day and it is almost spotlessly clean. How many parks can you say that of? I believe it’s because people feel it is their park. Our park. Not somebody else’s.”

He has since received the 2018 AfriSam South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) Award for his efforts.

It also acknowledges his leadership qualities for being the first person to influence the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) and other community members to take care of the then deteriorating Wilds

“I have lived in the area since I was a kid. To see The Wilds be revived into one of the most beautiful spaces in the city is nothing short of a miracle,” 67-year-old Dorothy told NewsDay on her morning walk in the park.

Challenges and looking forward

Reviving The Wilds came with its fair share of bureaucratic battles. Delaney admits that navigating city structures was often frustrating and required a mix of creativity and persistence. 

One major clash came over a proposed wheelchair-friendly path. Despite following all the necessary steps, the plan was rejected. 

When authorities threatened arrest, he backed down, but not for long. That night, he quietly completed the path using stockpiled materials and extra labour. By morning, it was done, and no one stopped him.

Relations with city authorities have since improved, with the first joint planning session with City Parks in a decade and a shared unveiling of a Mandela bench.

Today, The Wilds features around six kilometres of restored paths, dozens of ponds and waterfalls, and over 100 sculptures and 50 mosaics. 

But Delaney insists the park’s true success lies in community. 

It has become a rare space in Johannesburg where people from all backgrounds, ages, and neighbourhoods gather, including many from the city centre and suburbs who once feared the park. 

Delaney still works in the park daily and says it has transformed his life. Once just a painter, he now designs landscapes and ships sculptures globally. 

“The Wilds reinvented my practice,” he says. Inspired by St. Francis and Tolstoy, he believes giving is the path to connection and joy.

His message is clear: find a neglected space in your city and invest in it. “You won’t just transform the space, it will transform you.”

More images of The Wilds Nature Reserve in Johannesburg