The future of the Root44 parkrun remains uncertain, but there may be good news for parkrunners nonetheless.
The necessary authorisation for the Root44 parkrun lapsed during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and organisers have since struggled to get the event back up and running.
Initially the parkrun was held over parts of Root44 Market and the Audacia vineyards along the R44.
At the time of the lapse, the Stellenbosch Municipality explained a new public participation process had to be undertaken. In May 2022, municipal spokesperson Stuart Grobbelaar said organisers need to submit a consent-use application to permit an activity such as a parkrun.
Last week Grobbelaar confirmed the application is expected to be finalised by the end of March.
“[An] application was made for a Consent Use for a Tourist Facility qualified to the land-use activity to conduct a parkrun,” he stated.
“The final inputs from the provincial roads engineer were received last week, and the case officer is currently busy with the evaluation of the application and drafting of the report.”
Despite no definitive answer from the municipality, there may be good news for parkrunners as the organisers have been in talks with the Blaauwklippen Wine Estate, which has shown interest in hosting its own parkrun.
According to a spokesperson of the wine estate, it is in the process of acquiring the necessary permits and looking forward to hosting the weekly event as it “encourages a healthy lifestyle at Blaauwklippen with our various activities, and the parkrun fits into our objective”.
The route is expected to take runners through open veld, between the vineyards and through a small forest section.
Whether the Root44 or Blaauwklippen route opens first, the organisers are calling on volunteers to join up.
