Climb Swing Slide

1st June 2013

Boating Pond Play Area

Designed in the 1960s, the Boating Pond Play Area in Thurso was more than showing its age. The Thurso Town Improvements Committee identified a lack of familyfriendly, outdoor leisure facilities for local people and visitors. It consulted with young people to find out what they would like and involved them in planning the site.

The Committee approached Thurso Rotary Club whose members volunteered their professional expertise to implement the brief. LEADER match funded contributions from The Highland Council and local groups. As well as the installation of play equipment, the Rotary Club project-managed the redesign of the area including the removal of the crazy golf course, the extension of the play area, tree preservation and improved safety. An
underused resource has been turned into a place where children have fun keeping fit and active, where the generations meet and where visitors are attracted to stay longer, thus boosting the town’s economy.

Climb, swing and slide’
The new play area
LEADER contribution: £63,450 (45%) towards total project costs of £141,000

For more information on Highland LEADER, see www.highlandleader.com
To request a copy of the new ‘Revitalising Communities in the Highlands’ booklet please contact Planning and Development Service, The Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX.