Kiltarlity youth leading the way in playpark design
Children from Tomnacross Primary School in Kiltarlity have been congratulated for helping to develop their local play park as part of Highland Council’s investment in play areas across the Inverness region.
The Kiltarlity Play Park has been upgraded with new equipment which was chosen by the children and includes a basket swing, a flat spinning disc to challenge balance and coordination, new swings and a climbing frame with a top perch for watching Shinty.
Chair of Highland Council’s Communities and Place Committee, Councillor Graham MacKenzie said: “I’m delighted that new equipment for all ages and abilities has been installed at Kiltarlity Play Park, thanks to the inspiration and creativity of the children from Tomnacross Primary School. The children played a central role in designing their newly upgraded play park and this project ensured that young people were at the heart of the design process to create a play space that’s inclusive and community focused.
“By supporting young people to design their own play spaces, we not only encourage creative and collaborative thinking but also ensure that children have an opportunity to share their views on what play means to them in their own community. The young people of Tomnacross Primary School have shown true leadership and vision and have set an excellent example of how young voices can help shape the places in which they live. I would like to thank the children for their commitment to the project and look forward to the park’s official opening event.”
An official opening of the new Kiltarlity Play Park will take place on Friday 27 June at 10.30am and all members of the community are warmly invited to attend.
Leader of Inverness and Area, Councillor Ian Brown, said: “This has been a fantastic community-driven project that reflects Highland Council’s wider commitment to supporting child-led initiatives and promoting every child’s right to play, choice, and inclusion. The success and popularity of Shinty in the area created the need for a new training pitch, which in turn created the opportunity to redevelop the play park. I am delighted to see how well used the new equipment is, and my thanks to everyone involved in this exciting project."
Funding for the project was allocated by the Inverness City Area Committee as part of the Scottish Government’s Play Park Renewal Fund. Additional funding was received from Lovat Shinty Club.
Communities across the Highlands who are interested in upgrading their local play areas can contact Highland Council’s Play Park Strategy Coordinator for more information: lynn.macgillivray@highland.gov.uk
