Hundreds of play hours recorded at revamped Whin Park
Following a major transformation earlier this year, data from play equipment at Whin Park in Inverness has recorded hundreds of play hours over the summer months.
The interactive Nessie feature is proving to be particularly popular with children and recorded an impressive 234 hours of play in July and 200 hours in August. Children can play on the sculpture or jump into interactive games with the Sona Interactive Dance Arch which uses audio and gaming technology to encourage active play outdoors.
On average, children enjoy playing on Nessie for 11 hours on Saturdays and statistics from the Sona dashboard showed that more than 73,000 calories were burned in July, proving that playtime at Whin Park can be just as healthy as it is fun. Out of approximately 55 Sona installations around the UK, Whin Park’s Nessie is already standing out as one of the most used.
Depute Leader of Inverness and Area, Councillor Chris Ballance, said: “The redevelopment of Whin Park has been fantastic, and I’m delighted to see such outstanding play hours already being recorded. Nessie has become a firm favourite in the playground thanks to her playful design and interactive features which bring children together and give them the chance to laugh and play with their peers whilst making new friends in the playground. It’s a simple but powerful way to build a more inclusive, connected community and allows children of all ages and abilities to enjoy the benefits of play.”
Whin Park officially reopened on Friday 30 May following a £500,000 transformation that delivered a vibrant, inclusive and modern play experience for children and families across the Highlands.
Cllr Ballance continued: “The improvements to the park were much needed and have resulted in a sustainable, inclusive play space that our communities can be proud of for years to come.”
Councillor Bill Boyd, Member of Ward 13 Inverness West, said: “Our thanks to everyone who has contributed to the delivery of this excellent project. It has surpassed all expectations. It’s great and has already delivered more than enough to justify the investment. On several visits to the park recently I have not found any available spaces on 'Nessie'. Families will be appreciating this for a long time to come.”
Photo credit: Ewen Weatherspoon