In this episode of PodParks, our host speaks with Jenny Moodley, spokesperson for Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo and Co-Chair of the World Urban Parks Africa Region. With more than two decades of experience in local government, advocacy, media, and intergovernmental relations, Jenny offers a powerful perspective on the role of parks in addressing inequality, strengthening communities, and shaping more sustainable cities.

The conversation explores Johannesburg’s legacy of spatial imbalance, the city’s ongoing effort to bridge the green divide, and the realities of managing over 2,000 parks, cemeteries, conservation spaces, and the zoo in one of Africa’s most dynamic urban centers. Jenny reflects on tree equity, environmental education, safety perceptions, informal use of parks, and why cities must think more creatively about the future of public green space.

Recorded during the World Urban Parks Symposium in Istanbul, this episode also looks outward—toward the future of the Africa Region within WUP, the importance of regional collaboration, and the opportunity to amplify African leadership, solutions, and innovation within the global parks movement.

Key highlights / takeaways

• Bridging the Green Divide: Jenny shares how Johannesburg is working to address long-standing inequalities in tree canopy and green space distribution across the city.
• A city shaped by disparity: The episode explores how apartheid-era spatial patterns continue to influence access to parks, trees, and public services today.
• Greening as education and empowerment: From school programs to fruit tree distribution and Arbor Month campaigns, Jenny emphasizes the importance of environmental education and civic ownership.
• Parks are deeply social spaces: Issues such as vandalism, litter, displaced persons, informal use, and safety perceptions all reflect wider social and economic realities—not just park management problems.
• Africa has solutions to share: Jenny highlights the need to make African innovation more visible within the global parks movement and to create stronger platforms for knowledge exchange across the continent.
• Regional collaboration is essential: Through her role as Co-Chair of the Africa Region, Jenny speaks about building stronger networks, hosting regional conversations, and creating opportunities for African cities to learn from one another.
• Hope matters: One of Jenny’s strongest messages is that many of the challenges cities face are shared globally—and that solutions become more possible when practitioners come together with energy, honesty, and purpose.
• Youth and community voices are key to the future: Jenny makes the case for involving young people, local communities, and emerging professionals in shaping the next generation of parks leadership.

🎙️ Meet the PodParks Team

Maria Burnett | Luis Romahn | Vitoria Martin | Cynthia Hernández | Gisselle Ibarias | Brizel Lopez

🌐 worldurbanparks.org