Plans for new community park in Aviemore to be unveiled

Plans for a new community venue in Aviemore which could become home to a skate and wheels park, small hall and cafe amongst other facilities are to be unveiled at the start of next week.

Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust has been busy working behind the scenes for several years on the project that was initially expected to cost around £1.2m.

These efforts are about to come to fruition with conceptual drawings for the multi-use park off Dalfaber Drive to be shared at a public meeting this Monday (February 27) at the village’s Royal British Legion clubrooms.

It is nearly two years since the trust – in partnership with Aviemore Community Enterprise – polled the Aviemore community to find out what residents would like to see on the vacant site.

This identified support for community ownership of the Highland Council land with an area for community buildings, wheeled sports and a bouldering park being key aspirations.

AGCT director Mike Gale told the Strathy: “We are excited to show the visuals and basic layout of Dalfaber land that the architects LDN have produced at our community open meeting this Monday.

“The meeting will be a presentation and open discussion to start forming up the plan for the community park.

“AGCT is really pleased and excited with the concept drawings that fit in with the surrounding area but also deliver lots of space for our community to grow into.

“A big thanks have to go to Highland Council and the Cairngorms National Park Authority for getting to this stage and which will help us deliver a community base and park for all to use.”

A local design team has been led by Stuart MacKellar, of LDN Architects, in developing the proposals which remain an at the conceptual stage.

AGCT will be sharing more information and also looking for feedback at the meeting due to run from 7pm to 9pm.

The need for community facilities:

There have been calls in the community for a skate park for more than 20 years in the village but efforts have never got fully off the ground.

ACGT identified in a report a year ago the need for better community facilities in Aviemore.

The other priorities, along with a wheels park, were:

• A small hall. AGCT’s report stated: “Aviemore needs a community hall but the Dalfaber land has not enough space but there is easily enough space for a small hall that can accommodate meetings for the Scouts, Guides and Men’s Shed etc.

• A community cafe which would ‘be a great way of bringing all ages together’.

• Storage and offices. The report noted: “Community groups in Aviemore such as Aviemore Community Enterprise, Aviemore Community Council and AGCT have collected a lot of community equipment and they are spread about local businesses.

“It’s important we get adequate space to be able to store, fix and maintain such equipment like the main street winter lights.”

The report said that community bodies struggle with office space and meeting rooms.

The Highland Council asset transfer requires two major reports – one showing community support and this has already been achieved through an early survey.

The other was a feasibility study still to be produced. A £10,000 funding bid was approved from Highland Council’s ward place based fund to assist with architect’s plans and visuals for this.

Mr Gale said a year ago: “If we are successful in acquiring the land then we will produce detailed drawings and designs of the park including a phased approach to the different elements of the park.

“Funding will be a high priority once we have agreement for the asset transfer of the land.”

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