New Glenelg play park wins cash backing

A TWO-YEAR project to build a new play park in Glenelg has been successful after Glenelg and Arnisdale Development Trust was granted £ 35,000.

Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Local Area Partnership has approved EU match funding from the Highland Leader Project of £ 34,997.50 towards a new community park in Glenelg, taking the total amount raised by the trust to £ 69,995.

The project has been ongoing for the past two years, during which time the community has raised more than £ 8,000 through various events.

Tina Martin, a director of Glenelg and Arnisdale Development Trust, said: ‘The existing play area in Glenelg is very popular but no longer fit for purpose as it floods and needs upgrading.

‘The grant from Leader will allow us to create a new play park adjacent to the current play site on land owned by the trust.

‘A group of like-minded parents got together and said let’s do this. And now we hope to start work on the new play park in July.’

New innovative pieces of play equipment will be installed, along with safety surfacing. As the park is near Glenelg Brochs, the park will include replica brochs seating as well as new interpretation boards to provide information about the Brochs.

‘ We hope the park will become a visitor attraction and gathering place for local people and visitors,’ added Ms Martin.

The trust hopes to get children from Glenelg Primary School involved with putting the rocks for the Brochs in place. ‘The park is such a big part of the community and the children don’t really have anywhere else they can go and play. They are all very excited about the plans.’

The trust has worked hard over the past few years to seek other funding to bring the park back to life.

In addition to Leader, funding has been awarded by Tesco Ground Works, Highland Council ward funding, Big Lotteries Families and Communities, Big Lottery Awards for All and Historic Scotland. The Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Local Area Partnership has a budget of £ 506,688 to award to projects by March 2019.

Amy MacDonald, partnership chairwoman, said: ‘ We are delighted to support this project.’