City play park officially re-opened
Children from Dalneigh Primary School were welcomed to a £200,000 rejuvenated play area today (Wed 20th June, 2007) by Provost Bob Wynd of the City of Inverness.
Provost Wynd officially re-opened Whin Park play area at Bught, Inverness and invited the primary 5 and 6 pupils to try out the new equipment.
Funded by The Highland Council’s TEC Services, Inverness Common Good Fund, and Inverness City Vision, the refurbishment included installation of new play equipment and safety surfacing, picnic tables and seating.
The need to upgrade the play area was identified due to a combination of factors including obsolete play equipment, damaged safety surfacing and the poor condition of the old picnic tables and seating.
A £200,000 design and build contract was awarded to Eibe Play Ltd who undertook a public consultation exercise to gauge users requirements. The new designs include a central “Whin Castle” timber multi-activity unit, and an “Albatros” crashed aeroplane climbing, sliding, play unit. Refurbishment of the existing pirate ship, train and carriages, swings, surfacing, picnic tables and embankment slide area also took place. The toddler “springers” were also relocated and refurbished.
Additional new picnic tables, benches and litter bins were installed as well as a specialised swing for disabled users. Landscaping works re-profiled the area.
The main Whin Castle unit stands on safety surfacing in the shape of the Loch Ness Monster and has incorporated a see-saw, a Venus standing carousel and hop-scotch. Nessie’s head is included as a pictorial design in the safety surfacing at the bottom of the embankment slide so that children can slide down into Nessie’s mouth.
Welcoming Dalneigh pupils, guests and visitors to Whin Park, Provost Wynd said: “It gives me great pleasure to re-open Whin Park, our flagship play area in the City of Inverness. Although we have many local play areas often closer to home I know that for many parents, grandparents and carers throughout the City and further a field, Whin Park is a must-visit place for entertaining their children and for the kids it is a great treat coming here. You only need to come down here any weekend throughout the year to see how popular Whin Park is both with locals and visitors to the area.”