Live Aberdeen News
Pupils celebrate refurbishment of play parks
The finishing of a major project to refurbish or replace Aberdeen’s play areas was celebrated today with school pupils who won a competition.
The three youngsters from Hanover Street School - Abbie Fong of P7, Aukse Owefrijcutaite of P5 and Zoe Young of P4 - got the top prize after they came up with the best finishing line to the statement: ‘I love the new play area because…..’ Their winning entries were drawings and a poem.
Their prize was to officially open one of their nearest play areas, at Marischal Court, as it is one of the last play parks to be refurbished by Aberdeen City Council in the 2014/15 year.
Aberdeen City Council has, in the 2014/15 financial year, replaced or refurbished parks at Girdleness Road, Kerloch Gardens, Leslie Terrace, Marischal Court, Matthews Road, Newton Terrace, Oldcroft Road, Thistle Court, Beech Road, Earns Haugh Road, Langdykes Way and Hallfield Road. Partial refurbishments have been carried out at Heathryfold, Cromwell Road, Gordon Park and Greenbrae Drive.
All of these have been carried out using a mixture of £450,000 capital funding and £120,000 of revenue budget from the Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee, and also £95,000 from the Common Good Fund.
The programme will continue throughout the 2015/16 financial year and includes the refurbishments of the play areas at Wales Street, Fernhill Road, Findon Ness, Deevale Crescent, Manor Avenue, Seaton Gardens North, Seaton Avenue South, Hutcheon Court, Orchard Street, Kingswood Crescent, Bethlin Mews, Kingswood Road, Coldstone Avenue, Kincorth land, and Corthan Crescent.
A rolling programme of refurbishment will continue over a 15-year period with a view to replace all 153 play areas in Aberdeen.
Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Vice Convener Councillor Jean Morrison said: "We have had great feedback about the refurbished play areas and we’re really pleased with how much they’re appreciated by both families who live here, and visitors to the area.
"We place huge importance on providing suitable play opportunities for children so they can lead healthy and active lives and we’re committed to ensuring our play areas are safe, maintained to a high standard and are fun places for youngsters to go.
"The work will carry on to other parts of Aberdeen in this financial year and the families in those areas will have the same fantastic play areas as those already refurbished.”
A review in 2012 identified a decline in the condition of play areas across the city with many becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain.
The review also identified the need for more robust inspection and reporting methods and, as a result, a new inspection team was formed to conduct weekly inspections and carry out minor repairs where possible.
The report said the improved inspection process highlighted that many play areas in the city were in need of refurbishment or replacement.
Officers drew up a refurbishment programme as a result and work is being carried out on a priority basis. Communities have been and will continue to be consulted throughout.
The three youngsters from Hanover Street School - Abbie Fong of P7, Aukse Owefrijcutaite of P5 and Zoe Young of P4 - got the top prize after they came up with the best finishing line to the statement: ‘I love the new play area because…..’ Their winning entries were drawings and a poem.
Their prize was to officially open one of their nearest play areas, at Marischal Court, as it is one of the last play parks to be refurbished by Aberdeen City Council in the 2014/15 year.
Aberdeen City Council has, in the 2014/15 financial year, replaced or refurbished parks at Girdleness Road, Kerloch Gardens, Leslie Terrace, Marischal Court, Matthews Road, Newton Terrace, Oldcroft Road, Thistle Court, Beech Road, Earns Haugh Road, Langdykes Way and Hallfield Road. Partial refurbishments have been carried out at Heathryfold, Cromwell Road, Gordon Park and Greenbrae Drive.
All of these have been carried out using a mixture of £450,000 capital funding and £120,000 of revenue budget from the Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee, and also £95,000 from the Common Good Fund.
The programme will continue throughout the 2015/16 financial year and includes the refurbishments of the play areas at Wales Street, Fernhill Road, Findon Ness, Deevale Crescent, Manor Avenue, Seaton Gardens North, Seaton Avenue South, Hutcheon Court, Orchard Street, Kingswood Crescent, Bethlin Mews, Kingswood Road, Coldstone Avenue, Kincorth land, and Corthan Crescent.
A rolling programme of refurbishment will continue over a 15-year period with a view to replace all 153 play areas in Aberdeen.
Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Vice Convener Councillor Jean Morrison said: "We have had great feedback about the refurbished play areas and we’re really pleased with how much they’re appreciated by both families who live here, and visitors to the area.
"We place huge importance on providing suitable play opportunities for children so they can lead healthy and active lives and we’re committed to ensuring our play areas are safe, maintained to a high standard and are fun places for youngsters to go.
"The work will carry on to other parts of Aberdeen in this financial year and the families in those areas will have the same fantastic play areas as those already refurbished.”
A review in 2012 identified a decline in the condition of play areas across the city with many becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain.
The review also identified the need for more robust inspection and reporting methods and, as a result, a new inspection team was formed to conduct weekly inspections and carry out minor repairs where possible.
The report said the improved inspection process highlighted that many play areas in the city were in need of refurbishment or replacement.
Officers drew up a refurbishment programme as a result and work is being carried out on a priority basis. Communities have been and will continue to be consulted throughout.
