Campaign launched to give children playpark to be proud of in Aviemore
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Children at Aviemore Primary School have been coming up with some of their own colourful and creative designs for a proposed revamp of a village rundown playpark.
The Highland Council maintained facility at Burnside has seen better days and pieces of play equipment have gradually disappeared over the past two decades.
Now thanks to parent power – and local pupils – the playpark in the middle of one of Aviemore’s biggest residential areas could get a new lease of life.
A campaign was launched earlier this week to raise a sum in the region of £100,000 with Highland Council already committing £30,000.
Local Highland councillors and officials met with project leaders and local parents and tots at the park on Monday morning for an inspection.
Parent Katy Davies, who is spearheading the Burnside Park Project, said: “We moved here in July and were so disappointed at our new local park – a sentiment shared by many.
“When I started to ask questions I got told all kind of strange rumours so I decided to phone the council and ask. And somehow I got thrust into leading this project – but I actually really like it.
“Along the way I have met a few other equally enthusiastic parents who are volunteering their time and effort to this project.
“We are collaborating with Aviemore Community Enterprise who have kindly let us come under their charity status and their collective wisdom.
“There are many funds and grants we plan to apply to and having an established charity platform will add oomph to our applications.
“We are working closely with Highland Council’s play strategy coordinator Lynn McGillivray and the local authority will maintain our playpark.”
She added: “Playpark contractors will come next week to view the site and to submit their designs and quotes and then it is up to the community to choose.
“Aviemore Primary School has kindly helped us by allowing Lynn and myself to have a sit down consultation with the pupils.
“They also helped us run a drawing competition that we can put on our play park posters once we get fundraising.
The new group hope to have a crowdfunder up and running soon and their first fundraising event is on December 2 at Aviemore British Legion at 2pm.
The Christmas family fun day will have party games, second hand toy shop, quiz, raffles, cake and hot food.
Katy said: “I really hope the community can come and support our project.”
Ms MacGillivray said the council is happy to be working alongside the group to provide technical expertise and support to make the project happen.
She said: “Playparks support children in learning to develop important life skills as they journey towards adulthood such as negotiating, communication, building positive relationships, creativity, teamwork, problem solving, resilience, knowing how to have fun and community belonging.
“To ensure this is a project which is child-led, Aviemore Primary School kindly invited us in to speak with their student representatives.
“The pupils were amazing and gave excellent feedback and innovate ideas. They were exceptionally humble focussing on having something for everyone to play on, swings, slides, climbing and natural play.
“Once enough funds have been raised and we have designs, we will return to the local children for them to vote on their favourite playpark.”
Local Highland councillor Bill Lobban (Independent) said: “It’s great to see the community coming together to rebuild what used to be a very popular and well used playpark.
“I am delighted the Council is able to support some financial support and with the backup of council staff hopefully we will soon see the project coming to fruition.”
Fellow local member Muriel Cockburn (SNP) said: "It was a pleasure to meet such motivated parents wanting to enhance and improve their local playpark.
"Play is so important for our young people and when communities come together to fundraise it is wonderful.
"I am also grateful to the Scottish Government for helping Highland Council with play park funding."
Local councillor Russell Jones (Independent) said: "I am fully supportive of the community initiative to reinvigorate Burnside playpark in Aviemore.
"Local Highland councillors have assigned some local funds to the project and I look forward to supporting the Aviemore parents in their quest to raise the rest of the money required to give local kids the playpark they deserve."
For more information visit the group's new Facebook page - The Burnside Park Project
