The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Small playparks at risk across Fife
Less popular spaces to be replaced by ‘destination’ parks
Dozens of small playparks across Fife could be lost under council plans to replace them with “destination” parks.
The authority wants to have fewer but better playparks, removing ageing swings, slides and roundabouts in many areas.
It intends to invest £3.5 million in play and sports facilities and save on maintaining numerous smaller, less used parks.
In Levenmouth it is proposed to decommission several parks when equipment reaches the end of its life cycle.
Agreement is to be sought for similar proposals for other parts of Fife this year.
Levenmouth community manager Dave Paterson said: “We want to make destination playparks that everyone can access.
“The benefits of investment in nearby sites outweigh the removal of equipment closer to the home.”
Dozens of small play areas across Fife could close under plans to invest in “super parks”.
Fife Council wants to plough its dwindling resources into so-called destination play areas with the latest equipment for toddlers, older children and adults.
It means ageing swings, slides and roundabouts are likely to be removed from neighbourhood parks as there is not enough money to go around.
Council co-leader David Alexander said: “We’re going to have fewer playparks but we’re going to have better ones.”
The local authority has been following the approach in Levenmouth since 2012, in which time there has been significant investment in Toll Park in Buckhaven and the Taylor Street park in Aberhill.
Councillors on the local area committee have now agreed to the next phase in the policy, which is likely to be rolled out across the region later this year.
Agreement will be sought from the region’s six other area committees, starting with Kirkcaldy.
Each area has been given £500,000 to invest in play and sports facilities.
In Levenmouth it will mean a £30,000 investment in Kennoway Den, £20,000 for Castle Terrace West in Kennoway and £15,000 spent on Durham Park in Lower Largo.
Thousands of pounds have also been earmarked for Buckhaven foreshore, Balcurvie and Fernhill in Windygates and Letham Glen in Leven.
However, the public will be consulted on plans to remove 14 smaller playparks across the entire Levenmouth area.
Area manager Dave Paterson said: “We want to make destination playparks that everyone can access.
“The outcome is we get more families using the equipment in summer.”
He acknowledged there could be disappointment among communities about the loss of some smaller parks, but added: “The benefits of investment in nearby sites outweigh the removal of equipment closer to the house.
“We are very conscious there is no point in investing in parks in an area where young people don’t want to play on the equipment.”
He made it clear the council is no longer in a position to maintain the number of playparks in its ownership.
“The equipment kids look for these days is substantially more than the few swings we had,” he said.
“One thing coming from this is we will be leaving gap sites and we don’t have plans for the gap sites.
“It’s maybe an opportunity for community groups to do things.”
Among those to go will be the Approach Row park in East Wemyss and local mother Sharon Walker said it would be a shame to lose it.
She said: “There’s another park but it’s a 10-minute walk from here and you have to cross the main road, and the one beside the Spar is geared towards younger ones.”
We’re going to have fewer playparks but we’re going to have better ones. DAVID ALEXANDER