Success as Inverness granny swings it for new Dalneigh playpark with £55,000 funding secured from Highland Council
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A grandmother who led an ambitious fundraising drive to revitalise a dilapidated and dangerous Inverness playpark is celebrating success in securing the final cash sum needed.
Highland Council’s community regeneration fund has awarded the Dalneigh Playpark Project a £55,000 grant which will ensure it can be completed this year.
Liz MacIntyre, of Laurel Avenue, works as a building maintenance officer with the council and decided to take matters into her own hands after contact from neighbour Marie Maciver of nearby Limetree Avenue.
They enlisted other concerned mums and grannies from within the community and set about raising over £23,000 themselves towards the £73,000 first phase cost.
The council fund, which is distributing £5 million in all to projects that have a positive community impact, provided the final piece of the jigsaw.
The fundraisers have a bold vision for regenerating the downtrodden playpark which sits just east of the canal.
Granny-of-two Mrs McIntyre, the project’s chairwoman, said: “We’re just absolutely thrilled and delighted to get the funding over the line.
“When the opportunity to apply to the fund came around, we decided to take the plunge and ask for the full amount we needed to cover the first phase.
“Getting £55,000 from the community regeneration fund has given us enough money to get our playpark in place, and we’re hoping with the help of Highland Council we will be able to do that in time for the summer holidays.”
If Highland Council make the equipment purchase, the Dalneigh Playpark Project will avoid paying VAT on the new equipment and installations.
Mrs MacIntyre stressed: “If we can firm everything up quite quickly, we could have the playpark up and ready to go by the end of the summer term, which would be amazing.
“We’re working on having a community opening day to bring everyone together.
“I’m really grateful to everyone in the community who came together to really help push the project forward.
“It has been hard work, but it has really been worth it.
“It will mean the world to the little ones. The park hasn’t been fit for purpose for some time and is in quite a depressing state, with trip hazards, broken equipment - it really was quite horrible.
“Moray Firth Cash For Kids also gave us almost £5000 for an inclusive roundabout that can fit a wheelchair.
“We’re going to have attractive spaces and community benches just outside the park and we’re hoping to make it a place that attracts the community as a whole, as well as people from beyond our community.
“It will be more inclusive, more exciting and stimulating.”
A second phase of the project, to be funded at a future date, would provide upgraded play space for older children
The fundraisers worked closely with Dalneigh Primary School to determine what attractions youngsters favoured, while the charity Incredible Edible will also contribute to a community garden.
MFR Cash for Kids, Inverness Airport, Arnold Clark and Munro Butchers were among the project’s supporters.
