Refurbished play park is a big success with local pupils

Pupils from Auchenlodment Primary School in Johnstone gave their refurbished play park a big thumbs up after it underwent a major upgrade earlier this year.  

Primary 2 pupils were given the chance to try out all the new equipment during their visit to the play park on Elm Drive in Johnstone. The upgrades were designed to provide fun and welcoming places for young people and families.  

The work to improve the park is part of a £424,000 investment that also saw play parks at Braids Road, Paisley and Laura’s Play Park, Barshaw Park renewed. All three play parks are now open to the public. 

Isra, aged 6, said: “I like the new play park, I like the swings and the monkey bars. I think I like the monkey bars best because blue is my favourite colour.” 

Victoria, aged 6, said: “It’s good, I like the see saw swing cause it goes really fast.” 

Miles, aged 6, said: “I’ve been to the play park a couple of times already. I really like the swings because I can go really high.” 

Communities in the local areas were engaged with to identify the type of equipment wanted to see in their new play parks. Their feedback was factored into the designs and the new equipment that have been installed in the park including multi-play units, swing frames, rope swings, sweeping seesaws and inclusive roundabouts.  

Auchenlodment Primary School, Acting Head Teacher, Tracy Scott, said: “Our school is at the heart of the community here and having access to play parks like this on our doorstep is really important. Active is one of our school values and having spaces like this available locally aligns with that.  

“This park is inclusive for all children which is also a really important factor for us – it means all our pupils are able to benefit from it.” 

Councillor Audrey Doig, Depute Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board visited with the pupils during their visit to the Elm Drive play park.  

She said: “Providing modern outdoor spaces for young people to access free play is one of our key priorities and it was great to see how excited the children were to play on all their new equipment and enjoy their upgraded park.  

“Our play park investment programme covers every area in Renfrewshire and aims to offer fantastic outdoor play areas that are inclusive for all our young people.” 

The renewal works to the three play parks are being fully funded from the Scottish Government’s Play Area Renewal Fund. 

Since 2021, more than £3.6million has been invested by the council, Scottish Government, and a small amount of community fundraising, in 46 play parks. 

The Scottish Government has confirmed future funding for Renfrewshire of £768,000 for 2025/26 – which will take the total investment in its play parks to £4,924,000. 

Contractors Sutcliffe Play Ltd, Proludic Ltd and Scotplay & Sports Ltd carried out the refurbishments which were completed in late Spring.