A REQUEST for £700,000 to spend on Dunfermline’s parks will be made to Fife Council. 

And, if successful, £228,592 of it will go on new facilities for the Public Park, while Wellwood, Touch, Abbeyview, Duloch, Baldridgeburn, Rex Park and Lyneburn Park would also receive cash. 

Councillors at the City of Dunfermline area committee gave their backing last week for a bid to the council’s capital investment plan – there’s up to £10 million in the pot for improving health through leisure and sport. 

Central Dunfermline Community Council have been working with Fife Council on the Public Park project and a draft planning application has been submitted. 

The aim is to create a popular attraction similar to the playpark in Falkirk’s Helix Park with fundraising for the first phase, set to cost £160,000, well under way.

Jim Stewart, chair of the community council, explained: “The capital investment plan funding is available over a 10-year period and Dunfermline is intending to apply to this budget for the Public Park playpark project. 

“The application will compete alongside many other projects Fife-wide so there are no guarantees. 

“What might be agreed will become clearer in the coming months but we should make no assumptions at this stage.”

He added: “The chosen location provides for a selection of play equipment for mixed ability and age groups. 

“Although the actual equipment is shown in the plans, none of it has yet to be decided, and this will progress through further consultation with local schools, nurseries and residents.”

Dunfermline Public Park had two play areas but one was removed on safety grounds and the other will be taken down soon. 

Plans for the new facility show climbing equipment, swings, sensory toys, slides and an adventure trail. 

Alan Bisset, parks development officer for Fife Council, said: “The plans for improving Dunfermline Public Park will be completed in two phases and are estimated to cost £228,592. 

“Plans include new play equipment for a wide age range of users and abilities, safety surfacing, paths, furniture and landscaping.

“The £160,000 covers phase one of this project.”

Mr Stewart said: “Families wanted one substantial play area rather than two smaller places. It’s the best place it can be as it’s near to St Margaret’s and Commercial primary schools and parents believe it will be a good meeting place.

“To access significant funding, we have to raise a percentage locally, and have Fife Council as a key stakeholder who have budgeted for a small part of the funding package we need.

“The Carnegie Dunfermline Trust have kindly confirmed a contribution of £10,000 towards the target.”

Money has come in via Kingsgate Shopping Centre and Fife College while students have also organised a fund-raising children’s market at the Dell Farquharson Centre in Dunfermline on Saturday, March 25, from 11am to 2pm. 

Mr Stewart said: “We desperately need more community involvement, from schools, nurseries and local businesses and we are looking for all sorts of contributions from dress-down days to events of your own. 

“We would also be pleased to accept play equipment sponsorship that would be more suited to medium and large businesses.”

You can make individual donations via the funding website www.mypark.scot/projects/publicplay or email cdunfcc@hotmail.com.

The council will also ask for £150,176 for Touch play areas, £126,232 for Wellwood, £60,000 for Rex Park, £55,000 for Lyneburn Park, £40,000 for Bull Park and £20,000 each for outdoor gyms in Abbeyview and Duloch Park.