Public / Communal Areas

The park must be well signposted and easy to find. The park must have an attractive and well-maintained entrance and reception area, and when viewed from the entrance/reception, guests must receive a favorable impression of the park. There must be no neglected, out of date or previous and outdated grading signs visible.

All areas that are inside or outside the buildings and are accessible to guests and the public will be evaluated under this section. This includes: lounges/sitting areas, patios, day visitor areas, bomas, braai areas, meeting facilities, recreation halls, corridors, reception areas, bars, etc. If you don't offer, for example, a lounge, you will not be penalized – you will only be penalized if it is of poor quality or if maintenance has been neglected.

In addition to the main buildings and facilities of the park, where parks offer chalets and self-catering facilities, the exterior of these buildings and facilities will be considered under this section and will be assessed. Also included are any old and/or disused buildings, storage facilities, walls and fences throughout the park.

There also may be occasions where buildings previously used for a shop, laundry or some or other facility, but are permanently closed or are now used exclusively for storage purposes, and not accessed by the public, the interior will be disregarded, but the exterior will be assessed under “External appearance of buildings”.

All buildings must be well painted where appropriate, and in a good state of repair and no cracks in the walls must be visible. There must be no broken or cracked windows or poorly maintained fascia boards or guttering. Old disused buildings, walls and fences must not detract from the appearance of the park.

Throughout the park, the lawns, grass, gardens and flowerbeds must be well maintained and tended.

All parks should have some sort of landscaping policy to ensure high standards. Efforts should be made to adorn the park with the planting of trees, shrubs etc. with added features such as ponds, water features, flower gardens, bird baths and tables and seating areas. Natural features, such as stone, timber and the use of the natural surroundings should be harnessed to enhance the park.

Children's playgrounds, if installed, should be away from the main traffic areas, and must all be in a good state of repair.

A high standard of cleanliness must be maintained throughout the park. Attention must be given to detail ensuing that all areas are litter free.

The communal braai area, tables and chairs must be clean, well constructed and maintained.

Car parking areas must be well maintained, weed free and have a well-drained surface.

The quality and maintenance of all road surfaces including the entrance and within the park should be appropriate to the style and location of the park, and although it is not necessary for them to be surfaced by concrete or tarmac, they must be firm and free from potholes, and weed free. Some parks simply lay down two tracks for the vehicle wheels and leave the area between, and this is perfectly acceptable.

Speed humps/calming measures must be clearly signposted and marked. Curbs and edges, if installed, must be clearly defined.