Council to restore rundown parks in £200k drive.

upgrades: Five sites earmarked for improvements

Council bosses have launched a £200,000 drive to improve rundown play parks across Perth and Kinross.

Extensive upgrades are planned for five sites which the local authority believe are coming to the end of their useful life.

The work, which will begin early next year, follows widespread consultation with families at Almondbank, Coupar Angus, Blairgowrie and Perth.

Perth and Kinross Council is now inviting businesses to bid for the work, which is expected to be completed by the end of March.

The biggest overhaul will be Kirhall Park at Almondbank, which will cost up to £55,000.

Improvements at Ardblair Terrace in Blairgowrie, Sidlaw Place in Coupar Angus and Friarton Park in Perth will cost around £33,000 each.

A park in Mathieson Drive will be fixed up at a price of around £50,000.

The parks have not been significantly upgraded since the early 2000s.

A council spokesman said: “The play area upgrades include the refurbishment and/or replacement of existing play equipment. The council will purchase any new play equipment required for the projects.”

Feedback from parents is being used to shape the plans for each site.

Designs for Kirkhall Park include new swings, roundabout and a timber look-out tower.

The layout will also be improved to encourage informal play and make it easier for children to get round each piece of equipment.

A deal to begin work on each of the five parks is likely to be struck before the end of the year.

The council has also been working on play park improvements at Grandtully, Carsie, Birnam and Innerleithen.

Other parks earmarked for improvements between now and 2019 include Kettins, the Westfield Common at Rattray, Green Bank in Kinross and Forgandenny.

Earlier this year, the council signed a deal with Glasgow-based Luddon Construction to spruce up the play area at North Muirton. The job includes a new sculpture trail, zip wire and climbing frames, while expanding on the existing kickabout zone.

The council will purchase any new play equipment required for the projects. COUNCIL SPOKESPERSON

Picture: Steven Brown. The Mathieson Drive play area, one of the parks chosen to be upgraded.