The play area next to the Charleston Community Complex was transformed last month after most of the equipment, which had become dilapidated, was replaced.

The black-slabbed playing surface and grassy areas, with equipment including slides dating back to when the centre, adjacent to Charleston Academy, in Kinmylies, opened in the mid-1990s, was ripped up to make way for the state-of-art replacements.

A safe rubber-based blue floor with colourful designs, featuring games such as hopscotch, and several other new pieces of play equipment including a car-shaped climbing frame, have been installed.

"There had been times in the past where we had to stop people going into the play area, but it was very sporadic and now it shouldn't have to be closed at all," said Tom Wall, chairman of the complex's management committee.

"Before there was broken slabs on the floor and it was uneven, but a lot of effort has gone into finding the money and getting it done and it's fantastic. It has cost £25,000 for an exceptional play area."

He stressed it was very much a community facility, adding the gate to the play park will not be locked, therefore allowing parents to bring their youngsters in whenever they wish.

Nursery nurse Rachel Oliver has taken her two-year-old daughter Michaela to the area for eight months and said there had been massive improvements. They hope to visit the playpark as often as they can.

"It's so lovely," said the 25-year-old, who lives in Scorguie Gardens. "Michaela loves this new equipment."

The popular toddler group, which meets at the complex up to three times a week, uses the park regularly, and Ms Oliver said it was a great opportunity for her daughter to meet other children.

Management committee member Tracy Mackenzie, of Suilven Way, attended the opening of the play park on Friday with her two-year-old daughter Grace O'Malley and five-month-old Naomh. "It's a lot better than it was before and the children love it and would be here all day if they could be," she said, adding it was also an opportunity for her to make friends with other mothers.

The upgrade was funded with £6000 from the management committee, £6000 from the city's Common Good Fund and £13,000 from the Inverness West councillors' discretionary budget.

"It was an absolute disgrace before, but it's amazing what has happened now," said local ward councillor Pauline Munro. "It has been a long time coming and we have got to encourage children from an early age to be active and it starts when they are this young.

"If they have good, safe facilities that are good fun it maybe helps set the kids up for their older years."

The committee intends to add a picnic table to the play area in the coming months and wants it to be well used all year round.

Fellow ward councillor Alex Graham hopes the area will benefit a lot of youngsters in the years to come. "It's first class," he said. "I'd love to play here myself, but I'm too big."

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