Joburg’s Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, snatched the Large Urban Park Award, at the World Urban Parks Awards 2025 (WUP@10), over the weekend.
This year’s Awards Ceremony took place on October 10, 2025, at the World Urban Parks Symposium in Istanbul, Türkiye.
Winners were formally celebrated before a global audience of park leaders, professionals, and advocates.
The Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, won the Leading Parks Organization Award.
The awards recognise excellence and innovation in parks, public spaces, and community initiatives around the globe.
Speaking at the ceremony, Michael Boland, Chair of the WUP@10 Awards program, said “we received over 100 nominees from around the globe, and the quality and diversity of the projects was truly inspiring. The winners of the WUP@10 Awards represent the best of what our profession can achieve—parks and public spaces that connect communities, restore nature, and improve lives. It has been a privilege to chair this year’s awards program and to recognize such outstanding work.”
Other winners in Africa
Distinguished Individual Award – Bishop Ngobeli
Large Urban Park Award – Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve
Leading Parks Organization Award – Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo
Outstanding New Park Project Award – Addis Ababa Sheger Park Friendship Square Landscape Design.
Asia-Pacific Region
Distinguished Individual Award – Dr. Digby Whyte
Distinguished Individual Award – Kevin James Lowe
Large Urban Park Award – Tōtara Park
Large Urban Park Award – Guangzhou Haizhu National Wetland Park (China)
Large Urban Park Award – Glenthorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta
Leading Parks Organization Award – Auckland Council
Neighborhood Park Award – Kopo Neighborhood Park
Neighborhood Park Award – People’s Park of Guangzhou (China)
Neighborhood Park Award – 1000 Re-SCENES, Senri Central Park Revitalization Project
Outstanding New Park Project – Te Auaunga – Walmsley/Underwood Reserves
Outstanding New Park Project Award – The 14th China (Hefei) International Garden Expo Park (China)
Outstanding New Park Project Award – The restoration and renewal of the Living Water Garden (China)
Young Park Leader Award – Maria Burnett
Europe Region
Distinguished Individual Award – Cecil Konijnendijk
Large Urban Park Award – Oblonsky Park
Large Urban Park Award – Les Glories Barcelona
Neighborhood Park Award – Dalston Eastern Curve Gardens
Neighborhood Park Award – San Martin Park
Young Park Leader Award – Ana Sousa
Outstanding New Park Project Award – Jardin Extraordinaire
Latin America Region
Large Urban Park Award – Parque Fundidora
Large Urban Park Award – Capivari Park
Large Urban Park Award – La Plancha
Leading Parks Organization Award – Fideicomiso Pro Bosque de Chapultepec
Neighborhood Park Award – Parque de la Familia Chaparrastique
Neighborhood Park Award – Paseo de los Colegiales Park
Neighborhood Park Award – Villa Santa Rita Park
Outstanding New Park Project Award – Fernández Environmental Project and Park
Outstanding New Park Project Award – Parque Esperanto
Young Park Leader Award – Carolina Lizeth Alonso Vázquez
North America Region
Distinguished Individual Award – Erika Nikolai
Large Urban Park Award – Tom Lee Park
Large Urban Park Award – Meewasin Valley
Large Urban Park Award – Dale Hodges Park
Neighborhood Park Award – India Basin Waterfront Park
Neighborhood Park Award – R.V. Burgess Park
Outstanding New Park Project – Biidaasige Park
Outstanding New Park Project – Seattle Waterfront Park
Chair’s Special Recognition Award.
Picture: TripAdvisor