City swings into action with park upgrades

DOZENS of children's playgrounds across the Capital are set to be upgraded under a £1.6 million new action plan unveiled today.

The city council has detailed plans to upgrade the quality of 28 different public playparks over the next five years.

The investment will include improvements to the equipment and facilities available at each park and is designed to ensure that more people live within 800 metres of a play space of good value.

The action plan will also see seven playgrounds being gradually phased out in the coming years because they are judged to be at the end of their "useful life" and there are other facilities nearby.

The upgrades, which range from 40,000 up to 180,000, are due to begin within months.

Gavin Corbett, a founding member the Edinburgh Parent Council Network and a chairman of Craiglockhart Primary's parent council, said: "Parks are something that can be enjoyed by everybody, from a two-year-old right up to a grandparent, and there is no doubt they can give children strong memories of them that will encourage them to continue to take care of them as they grow up.

"It is good news that there is going to be this investment going into playparks, but my experience with children living next to Harrison Park is that a real problem is maintenance. So often you see money going into these facilities but keeping them litter-free, free of vandalism and generally well maintained is a problem, so I hope as much goes on maintaining them as is going into improvements."

The biggest upgrade planned is a 180,000 investment in Saughton Park. It will include all the latest children's play equipment within an adventure trail, swing zone and chill zone.

A 70,000 upgrade of the public park at Northfield Community Centre is also due to begin later this month, while major improvements worth 140,000 are also planned for the junior and senior sections of West Pilton public park in 2015.

However, a decision has also been made to close some facilities that are in desperate need of investment rather than upgrade them, as it is felt there are good alternative facilities.

Playparks due to close in the next five years include Forth Terrace at Dalmeny Station, Pilrig Park in Balfour Street, Brown Street at Pleasance and Baillie Place, off Milton Road.

Councillor Robert Aldridge, the city's environment leader, said: "Investing in outdoor children's play areas is a priority for us and we aim to give all children access to play opportunities across the city.

"It is important that children have well-maintained, quality play facilities that encourage them, and their carers, to get active and adventurous.

"The research we have done has produced some interesting results so now we really want to hear what communities think about how we can best use our resources for the future."

A consultation is expected to be launched following a council planning meeting next week.Where the money will be spent

1 Davidson's Mains Park upgrade 5000 2011

2 Ratho Station Park upgrade 50,000 2012

3 Forth Terrace closure 500 2012

4 St Margaret's Park upgrade 70,000 2011

5 Union Park upgrade 50,000 2013

6 Roseburn Park upgrade 70,000 2014

7 Fauldburn Park upgrade 50,000 2013

8 Craigievar Square upgrade 50,000 2012

9 Victoria Park upgrade 50,000 2011

10 West Pilton Park upgrade 90,000 2015

11 West Pilton Toddler Park closure 3000 2015

12 West Pilton Senior Park upgrade 50,000 2015

13 Muirhouse View upgrade 60,000 2012

14 King George V Park upgrade 2500 2011

15 Dean Village Play 60,000 2013

16 Admiralty Street upgrade 45,000

17 Pilrig Park closure 3000 2012

18 Moredun Maze upgrade 28,000 2011

19 Glenvarloch Crescent upgrade 80,000 2015

20 Marytree House upgrade 60,000 2011

21 Brown Street closure 2000 2012

22 Morningside Park upgrade 70,000 2014

23 Piershill Squares 57,000 upgrade 2011

24 Loganlea Avenue upgrade 50,000 2015

25 Northfield Community Centre upgrade 70,000 2011

26 Straiton Place upgrade 40,000 2012

27 Niddrie House Square upgrade 60,000

28 Baillie Place closure 500

29 Saughton Park upgrade 180,000 2011

30 Saughton Mains Terrace 40,000 2013

31 Dean Park Place upgrade 5000 2011

32 Dolphins Gardens West closure 1000 2014

33 Craigpark Crescent closure 1000 2014

34 Spylaw Park upgrade 60,000 2014

35 Fairmilehead Park upgrade 97,697 2011