A £50 million fund has been allocated to revamp play parks across Scotland by the Scottish Government. Children’s Minister Clare Haughey unveiled the funding during a visit to Figgate Park in Edinburgh alongside Duddingston Primary School pupils on Thursday.
The cash, part of a £60million allocation earmarked in the Programme for Government, will be distributed to councils until the end of the parliamentary term in 2026. The first £10million will be distributed in the 2023/24 financial year, followed by £15million in 2024/25 and £25million in 2025/26.
In 2021 and 2022, £10million of the promised £60million was spread across local authorities. Ms Haughey said the funding will help children access safe environments free of charge amid the cost-of-living crisis.
She said: “Playing outdoors has huge benefits for children’s physical and mental wellbeing, and play parks ensure children can access high quality safe environments free of charge as families grapple with the cost-of-living crisis. This funding will support local communities to take forward their plans to improve play parks for children in their area.”
Welcoming her to the park was Danny Aston, SNP councillor for the Craigentinny-Duddingston ward, who later on Twitter thanked her for "visiting the brilliant Figgate Park playpark which has benefited from @scotgov's £60m investment in play equipment across Scotland."
The funds can only be used to refurbish play parks that are owned, managed or maintained by a local council. Multi-use game areas and dedicated sports fields are also excluded.
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