New play equipment will soon be installed at the Riverside play park in Nairn after years of campaigning by volunteers
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Nairn Play have received donations from the Nairn Access Panel and Nairn Area Committee of Highland Council which will enable them to proceed with the works which brings total funding to £35,000 and will enable them to provide a range of equipment.
Queenspark resident and Secretary of Nairn play Katrina Woods said: "It's taken seven years to get to this point. Many children have missed out because the old play equipment had to be removed by the council on health and safety grounds but it wasn't replaced.
"We also had to get written permission from the council to use the land before we could proceed and because there have been several changes of area managers for Nairn that has only been achieved in recent weeks."
Katrina said the group were grateful to the new area manager for Nairn, Lewis Hannah, who arranged two on-line meetings with staff to push the plans forward.
"We now have the permission and the additional funds announced last week by the Area Committee and the generous donation from the Access Panel means we can now proceed.
"Mr Hannah was very positive and he said he would back us and he did."
Vice-Chair Morag Anderson, who joined committee of Nairn Play two years ago when she moved to Nairn said they had to refocus on their plans for the Riverside to provide something for the children.
"We had enough funds for swings, a slide and roundabout. But we wanted to do more.
"The additional funding from the council and Nairn Access Panel means we can now include a trim trail and zip wire slide. It's not right that children and there families here in Queenspark had no playground for so long. But it's good something is happening. "
She said they hoped contractors would begin work in May.
The group initially had aspirations to create a multi-games play area but the £250,000 dream faltered due to lack of funding and support.
"We are pleased we can now go ahead with this project and and we are also hoping to re-purpose an existing roundabout," Morag added.
Ian Booth, Chairman of Nairn Access Panel said: "The aim of the panel is to improve access for all and not just the disabled.
"The new equipment will be suitable for all abilities and solve access issues for kids on the park and we felt this was worthy of our support.
"We wish Nairn play well and look forward to seeing the project come to fruition."
