Children across Inverness can look forward to brighter, better play spaces as over £500,000 has been approved to refresh and revitalise dozens of parks in the city and surrounding wards.
At a meeting of the Inverness City Area Committee, councillors gave the green light to invest £512,052 from the Scottish Government’s Play Park Renewal Fund, which will be shared across all seven wards over the coming year.
While local authorities are not legally required to provide play parks, they are responsible for maintaining any equipment once installed.
That includes 58 play areas in Inverness alone, part of a wider Highland Council network of 319 parks and more than 2,000 pieces of equipment across the region.
The aim is to bring tired play areas back to life and make them more inclusive, engaging, and safe for children of all ages and abilities.
Councillor Ian Brown, Leader of Inverness and Area, praised the decision, saying play parks are not just places to run around but spaces where friendships are made and imaginations soar.
“Playparks have positive social and mental health benefits for children and young people,” he said.
“This investment ensures they remain safe and welcoming now and into the future.”
He also thanked community groups, local councillors and council officers for their collaborative work in identifying where the need is greatest.
Each ward has received a fair share based on population figures for 0 to 14-year-olds and how rural the area is, with £119,737 allocated per ward over the course of the five-year programme.
Next year’s play park revenue budget for Inverness stands at £65,200, covering everything from labour and materials to equipment hire and some contractor support.
A closer look at the funding reveals a wide spread of projects.
Ward 12, which includes Drumnadrochit and surrounding areas, will receive £102,336, with large portions going to Balnain Road and Kiltarlity play areas.
Smaller contributions are earmarked for refurbishments in Strathglass, Abertaff and Jenkins Park.
In Ward 13, £72,225 has been allocated, with upgrades planned for Whin Park, Blackpark Terrace, and Lawers Way, among others.
Ward 14 has secured £55,000 to bring new life to Benula Road and Hawthorn Drive play areas.
Ward 15’s £73,304 will support resurfacing and improvements at MacDonald Park, Castle Heather and Ardbreck.
Grebe Avenue and Smithton Pitches are among the sites benefiting from funding in Wards 16 and 17, receiving £56,000 and £93,187 respectively.
Ward 19 rounds things off with £60,000, split evenly between Inshes Park and Burn Brae.
The Council is also encouraging local groups to get involved in boosting their play parks by applying for grants and funding opportunities that are not available to the local authority itself.
Anyone interested can contact the Highland Council’s Play Strategy Coordinator at amenity.services@highland.gov.uk for support and advice.
As families across Inverness look ahead to sunny days in the park, this investment is a welcome step towards a more playful, active, and connected community.
