Renfrewshire Council have announced a major investment in local green spaces following successful applications to our £1.87 million Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund.

More than £120,000 is set to be invested in four projects which will improve the play equipment for young people and upgrade the infrastructure in parks across Renfrewshire, after councillors approved the plans.

Sandyflats Tenants and Residents Association (TARA) have been awarded £50,000 to radically redesign their local play park to create more inclusive equipment for children of all ages, and potentially a community garden in the future.

£50,000 has also been awarded to Spateston TARA to update their local play park, create a Community Hub and community gardens, kick starting their Place Plan which aspires to create a new community hub and gardens.

Bridge of Weir Community Council have been successful with their application for £12,000 which will see a new playhouse installed at Horsewood Road Park, and a new slide and activity boards in Lintwhite Park, while £10,000 has been given to Friends of Knockhill Park to upgrade the park's main paths which they hope will encourage more leisure activities within the park.


£13,645 had already been granted to four other projects, which included a feasibility study for bowling green improvements for Lochfield Ladies Bowling and Social Club, a gardening project within Fountain Gardens in Paisley, Brediland Allotments will create a new pond and surrounding meadow area to encourage nature to thrive in the allotment, and Corseford TARA will paint and enhance the entrances to a well-used local underpass in the area.

More than £800,000 has been awarded or committed from the fund already, with a further £640,000 allocated to other potential projects under development including new play equipment in Kilbarchan, Barwood, Lochfield, Hawkhead, McKerrell Street and Fountain Gardens.

In addition, upgrades to Thomas Shanks Park and South Park Mound are being examined, along with improvements to the community growing grounds in Foxbar and Linwood.

Councillor Marie McGurk, Convener of Renfrewshire Council's Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, said: "We are investing in the ideas and the enthusiasm of our local community groups and volunteers by helping them to make the difference they recognise is needed for their area.

"Young people are set to have more play opportunities than ever and our green spaces are becoming even more enticing places for local people and families to visit.

"It's amazing to see the projects that people are bringing forward and we're committed to supporting them to develop and progress their ideas wherever possible.

"I can't wait to see how these latest projects advance and if you have an idea for a green space in your area, please get in touch and see if this fund could be for you."

(MH)