Play park campaign hits huge milestone
Hard- working volunteers have broken the £10,000 mark in their epic fundraising campaign to help transform a village play park.
Elderslie Community Council has been developing plans to breathe new life into the run-down facility in Queen’s Road.
Members hope to turn it into a fully inclusive area with exciting play opportunities for children.
A£ 150 donation from Alpha Taxis, in Johnstone, enabled the campaign to hit the major milestone, which has been described as a “phenomenal” achievement.
In a statement to villagers, the community council said: “We are beyond excited, happy, thankful to have received a donation of £150 from Alpha Taxis for our play park fund which has taken the balance to just over £10,000.
“When we became officer bearers for the community council just two years ago, and spoke about the lack of a great place for children to play in the village, I don’t think any of us imagined we’d be able to achieve raising such a phenomenal amount of money on our own.
“We did it with your help. The village has come together to support us.
“You’ve turned up at our events, you’ve donated money and gifts for raffles, you’ve bought raffle tickets, local businesses have gone out their way to give us amazing raffle prizes, and have applied for grants on our behalf.
“We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
“Here’s to us Elderslie — see what we can achieve when we all support each other.”
The community council has created an artist’s impression of how the new park could look, but to fund it will need a pot of £94,000.
In June, enterprising Wallace Primary School kids Sophia Barr, Teaghan McGinn and Ruaridh Barr raised £580 for the cause.
This was followed by a community organised village fair in the same month, which raised more than £2,000.
Anne-Marie Balfour, treasurer of the community council, said: “We would like to raise a whole lot more, but slow and steady wins the race.
“The fair in June was a really good day and we were really lucky with the weather.
“It’s been brilliant because everybody is getting involved.”
The community council is considering various funding opportunities and has worked closely with school children to determine what play equipment they would like.
The group has also contacted a developer to see if they can help with forming a winding path to make the park fully accessible.
As the hard work continues, further events will be held to raise funds.
A bag-pack will be held at B& M, in Paisley, from 10am to 4pm on Sunday and a children’s disco has been organised for Friday, September 6 from 6pm to 8pm at Elderslie Kirk Hall.
For details on how you can help with fundraising, email Anne-Marie at balfy1314@hotmail.com