Plans to transform a “dilapidated” play park into a modern facility with better access have taken a step forward.
A meeting was held earlier this week between Elderslie Community Council and Renfrewshire Council to discuss how the area could benefit from a refurbishment of the park in Queen’s Road.
The run down council-owned park could be overhauled and turned into an area with as many as 32 play opportunities for children and young people.
The community council has created an artist’s impression, detailing how members envisage a facility that could be used by up to 55 people at any one time.
In that form, it has a number of different items including a climbing wall, roofed tower, slide, bridge and wheelchair-accessible roundabout .
Anne-Marie Balfour, the group’s treasurer, was excited by the prospect of working with the council to create a community space that everybody can use.
She said: “We are going to work in partnership with the council to build this play park.
“They would project manage it for us and work with the procurement team.
“We are working with them to make sure we can get access sorted out.
“There’s a park there currently and it’s got four swings, and that’s about it. It’s dilapidated.
“This is more of a community space, with health and wellbeing and mental interaction. It’s more of an all round thing. It’s for everybody at all times.”
The community council would also like to see a garden area and outdoor exercise equipment to appeal to all ages.
It has also placed a strong focus on the play park being completely accessible and inclusive.
Ms Balfour said she was encouraged by the local authority’s response to the initiative and willingness to consider taking the project on.
She said: “I have been here 12 years. Since I got here they have taken the library and the pool, and we just think it’s about time we take something back.
“We understand the money has to go towards education and social care but we are starting to see the end of that.
“We want to be at the front of the queue when the council fill their coffers up.”
Ms Balfour said the play park was “part of a whole host of things” community councillors are looking to do in the area.
However, she remained tight-lipped on the exact nature of any other future projects.
She added: “We all want what’s best for the village and we are all agreed in the vision the community council has.”
A Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: “We are working closely with Elderslie Community Council to support them with their plans to rebuild the playpark at Queens Road.
“We’re providing technical support to the group as well as assisting them to explore the different funding options available for a project of this nature.”
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