Katie Morag connection backs Coll playpark appeal
Coll islanders are hoping a claim to fame will boost their ambitious playpark plans.
Youngsters on the tiny Inner Hebridean island that inspired the popular Katie Morag stories, have been without a playspace for two years and now they hope that name-dropping as part of a fundraising campaign will help them get well on their way to getting a new one.
Campaigners pushing for a playground include Katie Morag author and illustrator Mairi Hedderwick’s grandson Sam Rutherford and partner Rosie Macgill who live on Coll and have just welcomed the island’s newest arrival, 12-week-old Orla, into the world.
The new playspace, which could cost about £100,000, will go in the grounds of the community centre in the village for locals and visitors to use and it is hoped Katie Morag’s worldwide fans who adore her adventures on the magical isle of Struay will also give generously.
So far a GoFundMe campaign online has raised £3,290 with almost another £900 being donated offline and extra cash from the community, including Coll Show, smashing the £5,000 mark, but COVID-19 has cancelled a whole line-up of events that campaigners had hoped would be key to bringing in bumper funds in 2020 - including the Coll Half Marathon weekend. The old playpark, which was on land donated by the Coll Hotel, had become outdated and unsafe over time and had to abandoned, said mum-ofone Alison Jones from Coll Community Playpark Committe.
Her five-yearold son Harris and other children have been busy coming up with design ideas for the new space which would have activities for all ages and possibly a Katie Morag theme to bring in the visitors. ‘We’re lucky we have the great outdoors, but two years without a park to gather in and meet visiting children and make friendships is too long. Often our children are playing on their own.
‘We’d like to have had it done yesterday! The whole thing is money dependent and dependent on us getting planning through. We hope we will have the support of Argyll and Bute Council.
‘Building a playpark on Coll will be more expensive than on the mainland but that’s not going to put us off. We’ve got to think about the longevity of the equipment to hold up against our weather, there’s the bringing it over and the installing of it - personally I’m thinking it could be about £100,000; a roundabout itself is about £5,000. It’s big numbers!’
The fundraising committee, who are now planning alternative money-making events online, including Zoom quizzes for up to 100 people, will be applying for grants but fear the impact of coronavirus could redirect support making it more difficult to get.
Including baby Orla there are four pre-nursery tots and eight of primary school age living on the island, with some older children at Oban High School staying on the mainland.
The same way as Balamory drew tourists to Tobermory, a Katie Morag playpark could become a magnet for Coll, although a sea theme with a basking shark slide is also among design ideas.
The GoFundMe campaign can be found at www.gofundme.com/f/coll-community-playpark or if anyone wants to make a direct donation, email collplaypark@gmail. com