PICTURES: Inverness primary school kids brighten up historic Northern Meeting Park building site with artwork
Budding artists from Inverness primary schools are brightening up a building site as contractors work to revive a “hidden jewel” in the city’s crown.
The £5 million renovation of the historic Northern Meeting Park began in the new year, with works including a new community pavilion, the refurbishment and preservation of the Victorian grandstand, improved access to city centre green space, enhanced sporting and cultural facilities and improved infrastructure for local and major events.
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It is one of three projects along the River Ness - the others being Bught Park and Inverness Castle - being supported with almost £20 million from the UK government’s Levelling Up Fund.
Major contractor Morrison Construction was keen to engage with some of the young people who could benefit from the ambitious renovation, as the firm’s corporate responsibility coordinator Mia Keith explained.
“As part of the community benefits we are delivering on the Northern Meeting Park project, we have attended and engaged with several primary and secondary schools,” she said.
“After we held our ‘early introduction to construction’ sessions, which included information on the Northern Meeting Park’s history and what we are doing there, we challenged the primary schools to create either safety posters for the site or Highland Games themed posters.
“We currently have posters from Central Primary School, Bishop Eden Primary School, Hilton Primary School and Inver Primary School (Tain area). We are also due to receive posters from St Joseph's Primary School.
“Kinmylies visited us back in May and we are hopeful that Central, St Joseph’s and Bishop Eden will enjoy a site visit after the school summer holidays to see the works for themselves and see their displayed artwork.”
The Northern Meeting Park was built in 1864 as the world’s first Highland Games stadium but public access remains limited most of the year round with the main regular users being the Northern Counties Cricket Club and local schools.
Highland Council’s hope is that many more people will get to enjoy the green space and its facilities following the refurbishment.
