Rescuing Dalry Community Park

Gorgie Dalry Community Councillor and Treasurer, Alex McKendrick, reflects on the history of community efforts to save Dalry Community Park, and what the Roseburn to Union Canal Active Travel Route scheme means for this valued local greenspace.

"The City of Edinburgh Council approved proposals to progress the improvement scheme. According to the council they are redesigning the park: renewing the existing playpark with equipment for all ages, resurfacing the sports pitch, installing lighting seating and wayfinding, improving landscaping and creating shareduse paths and better access points. This builds on consultation with the local community in 2015/16, and in 2019 when 95% of respondents expressed support changes inclued the development of a tree protection strategy, better access points and increasing path widths to 4metres, so more space for pedestrians and cyclists.

"Looking at the park now, it is hard to believe that it used to be a train station. Dalry Road railway station carried passengers into Edinburgh from 1900 until it closed in 1962 due to low profitability. Remnants of the original line can still be seen, such as the railway platform which now hosts birch and willow trees instead of passengers.

"It remained disused land until 1972 when the first play area was created for local children, replaced with a BMX track in 1984. By 1993 the track was replaced with a sandpit play area and a 5-a-side football pitch, and a multi sports pitch in 1999. In 1998 the park came under threat when a developer proposed to destroy most of the land in order to build a superstore car park.

"Gorgie Dalry Community Council (GDCC) argued against this development at the public inquiry, showing the importance of the open space and large amounts of biodiversity. In 2000 a survey found 140 wild plant species and 360 waiting to be identified. 24 species of moss grow in the park with an incredibly rare plant called Weissia rutilans playing an important role in safeguarding the park. The park is also home to many animals from many bird species, squirrels, foxes, a large diversity of insects such as butterflies, bees and beetles. Over 80 species of beetles were found with two only previously being found in Southern England.

"The proposed improvements to the park as part of the active travel route scheme are just another in a long history of changes. We hope that this opens the park up to the local community by making it a more welcoming place to visit, travel through and play in. We hope that the planned improvements won’t come in the way of the park being a great home to wildlife, trees and plants."