Parks And Open Spaces Benefit From £3m Fund

Almost 350 projects that will renew and improve everything from play areas, paths, ponds and planting places have been identified for investment through the Parks and Open Spaces Fund. Over 200 schemes across all 23 council wards have already been completed and a further 142 schemes are now in the pipeline following the creation of the £3m fund in the council budgets set in 2022 and 2023.

Community input has been at the heart of how the money has been spent with ideas on how to develop local green spaces being proposed through Glasgow's 23 Area Partnerships, which are made up of councillors, community councils and other local representatives.

The area partnerships have worked closely with the council's Parks team to hone the proposals and turn them into viable projects that could be delivered on the ground. This participatory budget process is new to the council and how the Parks and Open Spaces Fund has been implemented will inform future work to involve communities in spending decisions.

Councillor Laura Doherty, City Convener for Neighbourhood Services and Assets, hailed the success of the Parks and Open Spaces Fund as good for Glasgow's environment and local democracy.

Councillor Doherty said: "Whether it has been installing a new path, planting bulbs and wild flowers, clearing a pond of silt or installing new play equipment, the range of projects supported by the Parks and Open Spaces Fund has been remarkable.

"Every ward in Glasgow has already benefited from the investment being made through the fund and there are many, many projects still to come. We will eventually see hundreds of environmental improvements to spaces all across the city thanks to this ground breaking fund.

"A huge plus has been the community involvement in deciding which projects should receive investment. The participatory budget process has taken time, but we know for sure that each and every project that has been completed or will be getting underway has community backing.

"Communities know their local areas best of all and we can be confident these projects will be well received by those best placed to enjoy them the most."

 Taken together all of the work completed through the Parks and Open Spaces Fund will support the council's wider objectives to boost bio-diversity, strengthen resilience to climate change, encourage active travel and support accessibility to the city parks.

Projects range from £300 for bulb and wildflower planting on smaller plots to large landscaping initiatives.

Some examples of projects supported by the fund include:

King's Park, £7000 to create swales to help address resident concerns over surface water,

Leverndale play area, £13,000 contribution to repair and replace play equipment.

Festival Park, £26,750 for pond improvements, landscaping, new benches and accessible picnic tables,

Tobago St, £40,044 for play area improvements, including installation of a new pirate ship.

Elderslie St, £21,384 on new planters, seating, a sensory garden and planting 10 fruit trees.

Knightswood Park, £41,000 on new entrance, new footway and upgraded path.

Clyde Walkway at Ellerslie Path, £18,400, planting on 220m embankment.

Maryhill Old Parish Churchyard, £8600 on renovations to support public access.

Castlemilk Park, £15,000 to desilting works to improve park pond.

Full details of all the projects completed and under development through the Parks and Open Spaces Fund can be found in a paper presented to the Environment and Liveable Neighbourhoods Policy Development Committee, which is available through this link.

Picture show new swales at King's Park to help improve drainage.