Centenarian opens new park in Glasgow's Bridgeton

The Old Dalmarnock Road Greenspace, which sits next to Bridgeton Community Learning Campus, has transformed vacant land after a £1 million investment from Clyde Gateway. 

The new community park features a woodland path, areas to support biodiversity and a junior bike circuit. 

READ MORE: John Swinney opens Clyde Gateway’s £3m Rutherglen park extension

New entrances have also been constructed. 

The park was officially opened by centenarian Alice Gallacher yesterday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

The former lollipop lady, who has lived in Bridgeton since she was eight years old, attends classes at the local Bridgeton Community Learning Campus three times a week and says she was "touched" to be asked to cut the ribbon. 

She said: "It was lovely and it was so nice people came down to watch it."

Alice Gallacher with daughter-in-law Betty Gallacher (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Alice, who was joined by her daughter-in-law and one of her grandsons for the occasion, says the new space is "great" for the local community. 

She said: "It's beautiful, it's a big difference. 

"It will be great for the kids to use if they've got a wee bicycle."

She added: "It's nice to look at where before it was just waste ground." 

A plaque at one of the entrances reads: "Opened by lifelong Bridgeton resident, Alice Gallacher on March 31, 2023."

Alison Thewliss, SNP MP for Glasgow Central and chair of Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company, stood alongside Alice as she officially opened the park. 

She says it's been "really good" to see a positive use of the space.

She said: "In the past, there's been antisocial behaviour, it's not been a place that the community get the benefit off, it's been more of a nuisance. 

"To see that transformed, to see the bike tracks and the paths, it gives the community something positive to use out of that space and it's a really good, bright space people can go."

READ MORE: Riverside Park officially opened in Dalmarnock in Glasgow

The new park is just one of several greenspaces constructed by Clyde Gateway to help regenerate the area.

Others include the Cuningar Loop Woodland Park, Riverside Park in Dalmarnock and Malls Mire in Toryglen.

The opening of the Old Dalmarnock Road Greenspace was the final engagement of Clyde Gateway chief executive Ian Manson who has retired after almost 15 years. 

Martin McKay and Ian Manson (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Ian says his time with Clyde Gateway has been "marvellous" and it was "really special" to attend the opening in Bridgeton on his last day.

He said: "It's really special because the community's been involved in everything. So to end with the opening of a greenspace that has involved the local community centre in its design and development and then to have a local resident who's so well known amongst the community to do the formal opening is the icing on the cake for me."

Martin McKay, former executive director of regeneration at Clyde Gateway, will take over as chief executive following Ian's retirement.  

He added: "I've been working with Clyde Gateway for a really long time and I've been involved in a huge number of projects we've been delivering so I've been really proud to see what we've achieved as an organisation and for me it's just about making sure we carry on that legacy and keep delivering for local people."