New Carbost play park opens
An MSP praised the effort and determination of the Carbost community which worked hard for six years to get a new play park opened.
The new park in Carbost was opened by MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Kate Forbes during a family fun day in the weekend sunshine.
The play park, which has been completely refurbished with new apparatus for children of all ages, is the culmination of a fundraising effort that began in 2012 when frustrated parent Mags McGlynn of Fiskavaig volunteered to take on the challenge.
Mags said: ‘There was a play park in the village but what apparatus there was had been either condemned, missing or was of very poor quality.
‘In 2012, the community council asked for volunteers to take on the challenge of renewing the park and I came on board. We wanted to make an inclusive and safe play area that would have something for all ages and all abilities. Unfortunately most of the funding sources were no longer available, so we set about fundraising. We held cèilidhs, family days, put out charity buckets and secured funds from outside sources.’
The project brought in £60,000 from outside funding: £5,000 from Diageo, which owns Talisker Distillery; £5,000 from the Highland Council discretionary fund and £50,000 from the Suez Communities Trust.
Construction began on April 19, with the site signed off last Thursday. The official opening event on Saturday was marked by a family fun day with games, picnics, ice cream and a barbecue, with Ms Forbes joining in the fun.
The MSP commented: ‘The story of how such a good playpark was built in Carbost is one of great success and demonstrates what can be achieved through the determination and effort of parents in our Highland communities.
‘There have been so many fundraising efforts made by determined people along the way. It is such a privilege to see communities across the Highlands who are willing to overcome obstacles to get what they need. It is a priority for children to have somewhere safe to play and to be children for as long as they can.’
Ms Forbes presented Mags and her colleague Renee Mason with gifts and flowers as thanks from the community for their hard work before families enjoyed the afternoon in their new park.