Strathpeffer community park hub vision hits new milestone
FRIDAY the 13th was a day of sheer delight in one Ross-shire village as the fruits of hundreds of hours of volunteer effort and hard graft were celebrated.
Strathpeffer has formally opened the next phase of its community park project, a scheme that started in response to a woeful lack of play facilities and grew into an exciting new village hub that is still developing.
This phase of the play park project addresses the needs of younger children and wheelchair access. It’s already proved a great success and is being well used by children of all ages and abilities.
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Gavin Scott, chair of the Strathpeffer Residents’ Association and Community Park Project, thanked the many volunteers, funders, local businesses and supporters who made this phase possible.
He outlined plans for the future, including a cycle pump track and technical trail, shelter for teens and parents/carers and even the possibility of a play park Phase 3.
He recognised the hard work of community volunteers and the park committee who spend many hours writing funding applications, managing contracts, litter picking, landscaping and grass-cutting.
Park committee member Averil Milligan spoke of plans for an exciting extension to the bike area, for which the committee hopes to secure funding and deliver in autumn/winter this year.
MSP Maree Todd, herself a former Strathpeffer resident, reflected on the importance of outdoor community play spaces for children and families and celebrated the immense community effort that has made it possible.
She was also excited to hear about plans to expand grass-roots cycling facilities in the park, recognising Strathpeffer’s rich cycling heritage, including Commonwealth Games and Paralympic Games medallists in recent years.
Local parent Kerry Junor said: “My son is autistic and we used to have to go to lots of different play parks, so it’s really important for us to have a local park.”
Romane Walton said: “It’s the perfect resource for kids to have fun and exercise after school. We only have one car, so it’s good to have everything in one place.”
Rosie and Dexter MacLean said it had brought their grandson out of his shell: “Before, he was in the house just watching TV, and now he’s never away from the park, playing with his friends. He’s been on the bike track too.”
Building on the tremendous support from local businesses, Strathpeffer Residents’ Association also thanked the companies and grant-giving organisations who made this phase of the project financially possible, as well as Graham MacGregor Joinery and Building Contractor and Mcbride Plumbing and Heating, who both provided machinery; NPK Joinery; Ross-shire Engineering; and S22 Contracting, who donated the turf that has set the play area off so nicely.
Further information on the community park is at https://www.strathpeffercommunitypark.org/
