Cape Town has started developing Tutu Memorial Park, creating a community space where children, families and artists can connect with Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s enduring legacy.
Construction began on 17 September at the former Lupin Park in Milnerton, near the Tutu family home. The project will honour the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mama Leah Tutu while transforming the site into a more accessible community space.
The redevelopment will include an extensive children’s play area, reflective memorial garden, amphitheatre, public artworks and landscaped spaces.
Murals, sculptures and mosaics are also planned to reflect Archbishop Tutu’s life and legacy, alongside new pathways, lighting, parking, irrigation and public amenities.
The children’s facilities have particular significance given Archbishop Tutu’s connection with young people and his history in the neighbourhood. The park was a place where he would walk, interact with residents and pick up litter.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis marked the start of construction alongside Mama Leah Tutu, Dr Mamphela Ramphele, Chairperson of the Archbishop Tutu Intellectual Property Trust, and other project partners.
“There is something profoundly fitting about a park where, for years to come, thousands of children will play and connect with the life of Archbishop Tutu,” Hill-Lewis said.
“This will also be a place for neighbours to meet, artists to perform, and people simply to pause and reflect.”
The project brings together the City of Cape Town, Archbishop Tutu Intellectual Property Trust and local community organisations, including the Royal Ascot Master Property Owners Association and Milnerton Central Ratepayers Association.
The initiative originated through engagement between the community, the City and the Tutu Trust, with plans for the redevelopment first publicly announced in 2024 before going through the City’s public participation process.
Councillor Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, said the final upgrade reflects extensive community input.
“We thank the Desmond Tutu IP Trust, the Royal Ascot Master Property Owners Association, and Milnerton Central Ratepayers Association for their commitment and partnership in getting this project to this point,” Higham said.
“The project will ensure that the legacy of Archbishop Desmond Tutu continues to inspire the community and city for generations to come.”
Construction is expected to take approximately six months.
Once complete, Tutu Memorial Park will move beyond a conventional monument by creating an active public space where the Tutus’ legacy can be experienced through play, art, performance, reflection and community connection.
