The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
New trails the latest step for park group
A group of volunteers are hoping to end an identity crisis at one of Glenrothes’ most popular attractions.
The Friends of Riverside Park (FORP) yesterday unveiled 10 designated walking routes in a bid to make the meadows more visitor-friendly.
Names for the treks were suggested by members of the public, with those selected done so to highlight local geographical points of interest.
Recent months have seen FORP members install signposts and prepare pamphlets to guide visitors around.
The culmination of a year of hard work, David Cooper from the group said: “We were first inspired to start the project after we realised that one of the main problems with Riverside Park is that it is not obvious that the park is here and visitors are unlikely to find it.
“We also wanted to encourage local people to appreciate the park and thought that by putting in these new walking routes it would give us the opportunity to both improve and publicise the park.
“We were able to start the project once we received a grant from Paths For All, with help from Fife Council to install the posts and a local artist who stepped in to finish the graphics.”
To make its plans a reality, the group called on the manpower of Fife Council’s parks department to help install wooden posts that will guide visitors around the area.
Pam Hortin, secretary of the Friends of Riverside Park, said: “The public were asked to suggest names and winners received a certificate and a cash prize.
“Volunteers walked the routes to record distance, terrain and interesting things to see along the way.
“Coloured discs showing the number of each walk and its direction have been attached to posts and information boards are now in place showing names and numbers of paths.
“This has been a rewarding activity enjoyed by the group, which hopes it will make walks in the park more enjoyable and interesting and give an insight into what can be seen while out and about.”