£100,000 to upgrade public facilities at Barrhead’s popular Cowan Park

East Renfrewshire Council has announced a programme of works to further improve facilities in Barrhead’s Cowan Park.

The new improvements represent an investment of nearly £100,000 – through the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Communities and Place Fund.

And they cover a wide variety of upgrades and installations including new seating, larger bins, resurfacing of paths, painting the lion sculptures and improved signage.

Works on the projects are set to get underway in the coming months. And £33,000 was invested last year to upgrade some of the paths in the park. These projects were decided through participatory budgeting, a process where the community decides how public budgets will be allocated, and had originally come from ideas raised by local groups and individuals.

The consultation, held at the end of 2023, received almost 2,000 contributions from the local community, both in-person and online.

There was also strong support for restoring the water fountain and increasing CCTV. The costs for both exceeded the funding currently available, however, the council will be exploring these areas for future funding opportunities.

Environment and housing convener, Councillor Danny Devlin, said:“Cowan Park is a fantastic facility for Barrhead residents and those who come to visit the area.

“We’ve seen some great improvements over recent months with the newly-converted gate lodge, tennis courts and renovated bandstand.

“But we’re committed to continually upgrading our public spaces so I’m delighted that these improvement works will soon get underway. Thanks to everyone who had their say last year and helped us shape future plans for the park.”