Community call for playpark upgrades
Activist hopes council will replace aging equipment for kids
A community activist is calling for a run down play area to be demolished and replaced with modern equipment throughout Paisley’s Glencoats Park.
Karen Campbell, chairwoman of Pals of the Privies in Ferguslie Park, has led a clean- up operation at the greenspace and says it’s time for new playsets.
She claims the swings and chute in the current park are at least 28 years old and will meet with Renfrewshire Council tomorrow to discuss different ideas.
After speaking to young people and parents, Karen spoke of how children are unlikely to go to the current playpark if older youths are hanging about.
That led to an idea being developed by Pals of the Privies and Ferguslie Community Council, which would see different types of play equipment placed in different locations throughout Glencoats Park.
Karen said: “The kids have told us they don’t want a play park in one set area.
“If they got to the swing park just now, and the youths are hanging about in there, the kids won’t go in or the parents won’t take them in.
“The park needs demolished. It’s only a small square, 20ft by 20ft.
“It’s about using all of Glencoats Park. It’s such a big, big area.
“It’s getting play equipment put into Glencoats Park but using all of it and getting kids running about and being active.
“We see them going to different activities and moving along.”
The local authority recently had positive discussions with Elderslie Community Council, with the group looking to breathe new life into its play park in Queen’s Road. It wants to turn a council-owned park into an area with as many as 32 play opportunities for children and young people.
The community council created an artist’s impression, detailing how members envisage a facility that could be used by up to 55 people at any one time.
Meanwhile, Karen believes Ferguslie’s playpark is in greater need than other areas in Paisley but praised Renfrewshire Council for its support so far as local people look to rejuvenate Glencoats Park.
She added: “We will go to the council and ask them ‘what help can you give us?’
“In an ideal world they would come back to us and say ‘ Yes it needs a new play park’. But they might say ‘We will part fund it’ and we might have to fundraise. “They have been great with us. “They brought us two bins when we asked.
“They have started to cut the grass regularly.
“The wee things we have asked them to do, they have done.”