Villagers rally to breathe new life into Kinghorn play parks

Community: Sporting challenges and family fun days have raised £95,000 already for park revamp

Kinghorn people have swung into action to revive their play parks.

A campaign was launched last autumn to raise money to overhaul two of the village’s ailing play areas.

It has already collected around £95,000 and it is hoped work can start on the first revamp, in Nethergate, in the next few months.

Residents, businesses and community groups have helped to raise more than £3,000, and grants have come from Lovell Homes, which is building houses in the village, and Fife Environment Trust.

Among the supporters were several sponsored runners in the recent Black Rock 5 race including Kinghorn Co-op employees Colin Currie and Calum McLaren.

A boules tournament and family fun day is to be held next month and a coffee morning in September will further boost the coffers.

Kinghorn Play Parks chairman Roy Mackie said: “Since the group started raising the £115,000 needed to build the new Nethergate play park we have been overwhelmed by the support we’ve had from our local community.

“Collection tins in various commercial premises around Kinghorn provide a constant revenue stream, thanks to the generosity of people putting in their loose change.

“We’ve also had people being sponsored to run in the local Black Rock 5 race, people auctioning items and donating the proceeds, as well as individuals and groups simply donating money.

“There is generally a collective determination to do something about the sorry state of Kinghorn’s play parks, which are in a terrible state.

“As well as local fundraising we also need funding from other trusts and organisations, and I’m happy to say that we have recently been granted £50,000 from Fife Environment Trust, which has recognised the value in what we’re trying to do.”

The group was launched after people became fed up with the deteriorating condition of the village’s play parks.

Designs are being drawn up for the Nethergate park and once it is complete the focus will shift to redeveloping the park in Eastgate.

Lovell Homes is to contribute £113,000 for the play parks, a condition attached to its planning permission for the Lochside Grange development.

It is also hoped grants for the Nethergate park will come from Fife Council and the Kinghorn common good fund.

Intrepid runners in the Black Rock 5 road and beach race, including Kinghorn Co-op staff Colin Currie and Calum McLaren, were praised by Kinghorn Play Parks chairman Roy Mackie.

Calum McLaren, Roy Mackie and Colin Currie are fundraising for playground equipment.