More than £70,000 has been awarded to the Southside of Glasgow in a bid to transform parks and green spaces benefiting the community.
Funding totalling £74,000 was granted to the area partnership committee earlier today to help cover the cost of various projects while members agreed to encourage newly established groups to apply for funding to help continue projects in the Southside area.
Glasgow City Council confirmed it is working with various organisations to promote the funding opportunities available.
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Depute Labour Leader councillor Soryia Siddique said: “What has been the demand for the fund and how has the awareness of this fund been made at a local level?
“There are organisations out there that are newly formed so they may know there is funding out there but not know how to apply for it.”
Councillor Siddique was made aware that interest in the fund has been growing and has been promoted at a community level.
Kenny McKormick, parks and improvements services, said: "Part of my remit is to work with “friends” groups as well and we have been promoting this quite heavily and we have been identifying opportunities for investment. It is an ongoing process and we will continue conversations with communities.”
On top of the £10,000 that was awarded last September to renovate parts of Queen’s Park, members agreed to spend up to £27,700 renovating the playground and replacing and repairing two pieces of damaged equipment at Riccarton Street Park.
Members also agreed to allow £10,000 of funding to be spent replacing all the 'carpets' of the play areas. Fencing surrounding the basketball court will be repaired and repainted and the basketball boards and nets will be replaced. Leftover money will be used to replace park signage and tidy some of the shrubs within the park.
The committee also agreed to spend £300 on a community bulb planting day on Bennan Street, £12,000 on improvement works on Calder Street, £5000 on an outdoor table tennis table in Queen’s Park and £8000 on a frame for those undertaking TRX suspension training.
Some £20,000 will be spent refurbishing Balvicar Street play area which will contribute towards a full refurbishment of the park and up to £1000 will be used to buy pain, plants and soil for the plot at Hollybrook Street and Aikenhead Road.
Mr McKormick added: “These projects will involve time being set aside for preparation of contract documents and procurement. Granting the funding today will allow for early action to be taken [to prgress with them].”
