PICTURES: Nairn PLAY celebrates opening of new Riverside playground
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NAIRN residents gathered for the opening of a brand new playpark last weekend.
Around 50 people braved the weather for the official opening of the new Riverside playground on Saturday.
The brand new £40,000 playground was delivered by charity Nairn PLAY (Preserve Local Areas for Youth), with funding coming from donations from the general public through the charity’s fundraising activities, Nairn Common Good fund and other donations.
Morag Anderson, committee member at Nairn Play, said: "It was a dreich foggy day but the bairns and their families all turned out to see the playpark officially opened by competition winner Debbie Bexley.
"Comments from attendees were so positive, praising the quality and range of equipment.
"Nairn PLAY committee were also commended for their perseverance and determination. We have faced many setbacks and delays over the years, most notably with the recent Covid pandemic, but we are all just so glad to see the equipment replaced and enhanced. Riverside Playpark is an excellent new facility for Nairn and hopefully the start of wider development at Riverside.
"Nairn PLAY are planning a fun day event in the spring or summer of next year and will have a consultation event within that. Ideas and comments will be sought from the public about further facilities that could be brought to Riverside, so please come along and have your say!
“The equipment has a wide age range, so anything from babies or toddlers can go on the baby swings, right through to the zip-wire for the older kids, and then skate park and multi-wheel sports, and a football pitch. There are a lot of facilities there, but there is scope for better things as well and we hope to do some consultation as well next year on what people would like to see at Riverside.
Councillor Babs Jarvie was also in attendance on the day.
Funding for the project was raised from the general public Nairn PLAY's own fundraising activities, Nairn Common Good Fund and donations from the War Discretionary Fund, Lovat Lodge among others.
Ms Anderson added: "We want to say a huge thank you to the community for all the support over the years and we want to thank our funders big and small, none of this would have been possible without you all!"
Key funding sources for the playpark came from:
- The Davidson Trust (£9000)
- Ward Discretionary Fund (£6000)
- Nairn Access Panel (£1000)
- Lovat Lodge (£5000)
- Howdens Joinery Co. (£200)
- Nairn Common Good Fund (approximately £12000)
- Scotmid (£500)
- Nairn Ceilidh Group (£300)
- Public donations/ income from Christmas fairs and other fundraising events (£2400)
Nairn PLAY are also on the lookout for new members, no experience required and everyone is welcome. They can be contacted via their Facebook page or via email on info@nairnplay.co.uk.
