Highland councillors agree allocation of £219,000 renewal funds for play parks
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Play parks across the Highlands are to receive a share of £219,000 renewal funding.
A strategy for the region's parks is also to be developed with the aim of supporting active play, making them inclusive in design and use and being environmentally and financially sustainable.
There was an outcry earlier this year following the closure of play parks in various locations after they were deemed dangerous by Highland Council.
Highland councillors have already agreed around £500,000 for investing in play areas through their devolved budgets agreed at area committees.
A new source of capital funding is available from the Scottish Government’s play area renewal programme. Councillors have agreed on the allocation of this £219,000 capital play park funds by considering play park condition, the number of young people and a factor for rurality.
The allocation to area committees is:
City of Inverness and area – £66,167
Badenoch and Strathspey – £9474
Black Isle – £8394
Caithness – £22,813
Dingwall and Seaforth – £8343
Easter Ross – £22,946
Isle of Skye and Raasay – £7462
Lochaber – £37,919
Nairnshire – £7926
Sutherland – £12,591
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh – £14,968
Communities and place committee chairman Councillor Allan Henderson said: "Supporting families in the recovery from the pandemic is vital to the wellbeing of our communities and I am very pleased to see the development of a strategy and investment in play parks that will assist with the recovery."
A review of play parks will take into account play equipment and its condition, and the use and ownership of play parks.
Local plans for, and investment in play parks will be agreed at a local level within the available council budget and other external resources.
Cllr John Finlayson, chairman of the education committee, said: "Local partnership working is the key to success.
"I was delighted to attend the opening of a new community playpark in Kyleakin. £100,000 was raised in less than a year with support from businesses, local fundraising and the Eilean a' Cheò ward discretionary budget."
Closure of play parks deemed unsafe sparks angry reaction
