Tears fall as community play park opens
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AFTER months of hard work and sweat to create a play park to be proud of, it eventually all proved too much for chairwoman Vicky Mackay when her village’s dream finally became a reality.
Keiss Community Family Project members broke down in tears as they officially opened their £90,000 play park to the public on Saturday.
Local children did not need to be asked twice to have their first swing, slide and ride on the new playing facilities as more than 100 youngsters and relatives turned up to join in the big day.
The project, which was one of three supported by North of Scotland Newspapers’ charity of the year initiative, has been over two years in the planning and received a boost of £2250 from the Courier and Groat during the opening ceremony.
It was originally the brainchild of the Sinclair Bay Community Council whose members wanted to create a community facility in Keiss which would bring friends and family closer together.
The previous play park in the village was seen as unsafe with broken equipment and rough surfaces, leaving many parents reluctant to let their children play there.
But now they have no such concerns as together with brand-new swings, slides and climbing apparatus, a new path has also been created, partly funded by the project’s buy-a-brick scheme where local residents have left messages on each brick as a lasting legacy of their contribution.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, an emotional Mrs Mackay said it had been a long road to get the project finished but added she was proud the group had reached its aim.
She said: "This play park is a big thank you to all the committee, donors, fundraisers and all the members of the community that have allowed this to become a reality.
"We now hope that children and families in Keiss will come and have lots of fun here."
After her speech, which received thunderous applause from villagers, Mrs Mackay cut the ribbon with the help of Mickey and Minnie Mouse to officially declare the venue open.
The group is also in the final stages of creating multi-active games, fitness and picnic areas which, it is hoped, will be completed at the beginning of next year.
The other groups to benefit from the NOSN scheme, which raised £4800 in total, are Thrumster Park Regeneration Fund and Thurso Youth FC.
