Play park pipe dream is becoming a reality
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A LOCAL village community project is within touching distance of providing a brighter fun-filled future for children in the area.
Thrumster Park Regeneration Fund is "delighted" to be approaching its first fundraising target of £20,000.
The milestone will provide a brand-new play park for around 50 youngsters in the village and secure a lasting legacy for future generations.
Group chairwoman Alice Miller said it should change the lives of children in the village.
"When you see what we’ve got at the moment – it’s nothing," she said. "To be able to raise funds, to have the community support and to have a decent play park is just amazing."
The hardworking committee is close to being able to buy equipment for the new play park, with plans showing the current site being transformed into a wonderland of adventure.
Plans depict the Bella Mackay Park – named after the street where it is located – having climbing equipment, a chute, rope swing, balancing toys and various other attractions designed to offer hours of fun to local youngsters.
What originally was a pipe dream is now nearly a reality thanks to successful awards the group has fought hard to get.
So far it has received £10,000 from Awards for All, £5000 from the Bilbster Community Fund, £1500 from the People’s Postcode Trust, £1000 from Achairn Wind Farm and £400 from the Dounreay Stakeholder Group.
The group is also being supported by North of Scotland Newspapers through its charity-of-the-year initiative, while members have taken part in their own fundraising drives – including a curry night and fun afternoon.
The committee is now in the process of ordering equipment for the first two phases of work – for the new junior play park and toddler area.
Ms Miller explained it has been so successful with its fundraising the project has been expanded to include a lot more than was originally planned.
"It was always the hope that we would be able to do it all but we thought it would take us years and years," she told the John O’Groat Journal.
"We’ve been quite lucky in the first year to get the grant applications that we have and the support from the community. It’s making it more believable and it’s now a case of let’s do as much as we can."
The group now hopes to continue to fundraise in order to upgrade the village tennis courts to include a basketball court and a five-a-side football pitch as well as a new barbecue and picnic area.
The committee is hopeful of securing match funding from the Highland Council to help accelerate the plans.
Fund secretary Rhona Gill said villagers are already grateful to the local authority which has been carrying out drainage work at the park.
She added a heartfelt thanks to those involved for their continuing support – particularly the children for their patience in waiting for their new "fantastic" park.
The contract for the work has been given to Sutcliffe Play Scotland.
Managing director Joe Duffy said: "Sutcliffe Play Scotland is delighted to be awarded the contract to deliver, with the Thrumster Park Regeneration Fund, their aspirations for the development and refurbishment of the community play park.
"We have worked with the team over the past six months developing a play proposal that meets the needs of children from the very young to the growing teenager."
Achairn Wind Farm owner James Innes, who has been backing the group, said he is happy to support such a cause.
"We just thought it was an excellent idea to give money to anything that involves kids and sport and generally being outside. With kids getting X-box and PlayStation games consoles these days, anything we can do to get them outside in the fresh air is beneficial."
