Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Iron-age inspires new play structure
Crannog design real blast of the past
Work is underway on a major new play facility at Drumpellier Park – which has been inspired by a historic iron- age crannog and will be one of the largest single play structures in Scotland.
The design of the 6.5m wooden play area is based on the ancient type of loch or marsh dwelling on stilts which was found in the Coatbridge park’s Lochend Loch when it was drained for maintenance around 80 years ago.
It will include a suspension bridge, double cableway, enclosed and double-width accessible slides, climbing nets, hammocks, swings, boulders and logs, sensory play items and fully accessible ramps.
The £ 210,000 cost of the new facility – intended to be open by spring – has been provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, with contributions from North Lanarkshire Council, Culture NL, Coatbridge Local Area Partnership and the Scottish landfill communities fund via Wren.
Local councillors joined workers and others involved in the project to mark the official site start of the project this week.
And were able to see the impressive sea eagle sculpture which will become the centrepiece atop the crannog when the construction is complete.
Coatbridge North representative Michael McPake, who is the convener of North Lanarkshire’s environmental services committee, said: “This facility brings the ironage history of the park and Scotland to life, encouraging children to explore and learn while they play here.
“They’ll love this excellent new adventure play facility, which is fully wheelchair accessible so will be open to everyone.
“It’s unique and will be a focus for the continuing development of Drumpellier Park, which is very popular with local people, and will help encourage more visitors from further afield in its new role as gateway to the Seven Lochs wetland park.”
The wider wetland park – which stretches from Drumpellier as far as Hogganfield in the east end of Glasgow, and also includes neighbouring Garnqueen and Johnston lochs in Monklands – is being developed as a heritage conservation and learning hub and has received backing totalling £ 4.5million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
It is Scotland’s largest urban nature park, at around 16 square kilometres, and is being developed between now and 2021 to improve and protect its wildlife habitat and archaeology “to create a new attraction of national significance”.
Among the further planned improvements are a waterside viewing area at Drumpellier’s visitor centre, public square, new landscaping, bird watching areas, wildflower meadows and expanded events programme – following on from recent council investment of £ 680,000 in visitor facilities including the path network and additional parking.