A DUNFERMLINE charity’s dream of creating a playpark for children of all abilities in Pittencrieff Park could become reality by the autumn.

Play as One Scotland have revealed that the tender process for bids to develop the inclusive area, which they say will be a first in Scotland, has now closed.

Fife Council will now look to choose a preferred bidder to carry out the work for the project, which is anticipated to cost in the region of £150,000, and could be completed within four months.

The charity, created three years ago by a group of friends who took part in the Dunfermline Athletic Football Fans in Training Initiative in 2011, say that the park, to be located at the top end of the Glen near to the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust HQ, will include a music and sensory garden, and equipment such as swings, roundabouts and electronic games suitable for youngsters with or without a physical disability or learning difficulty.

Trustee John Nicol said: “We have passed a fairly big milestone and we hope to get the green light to put the first spade in the ground. We could be two, three or fourth months away from having the park in place.

“Inclusive playparks are extremely rare in Scotland with nothing on the scale that we are proposing; there are scaled in versions in other areas but this will be a first.

"We are hoping to establish this as a showcase site with a view to inviting other councils from around Scotland to see what we have achieved.

"If we can create three or four parks then we may get to a point where it is routine for councils to help build them.

“We’ve raised £150,000 for this park and have received funding from the likes of Amazon, Fife Environmental Trust, the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust and Thomas Cook.

"Fife Council have guaranteed to maintain it for 10 years and we’ve got councillors on board.

“The playpark itself is intended for able-bodied and disabled children, those with learning difficulties and autistic children.

"It will use lots of colours and will have equipment that uses sounds, touch, vision and electronics, and will be wheelchair-friendly and accessible.

“Everybody can play together, with the only exception to that being with a wheelchair swing, and it’s about trying to help children learn from an early age to respect others, regardless of their ability or if they have a disability.”

John, who said Play as One Scotland would look to invite First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to open the park, revealed they had been working with Hamilton Academical FC’s community trust to develop a football-themed inclusive park at the team’s stadium, and had been approached to provide guidance with a view to one being created in Perth.

He added: “I think people will travel to use the park and it will make such an impact. It’s vibrant and will be stimulating.

“It needs to be in a prime location to help send the message to society to treat everybody the same. We are trying to get children to see that people less able than themselves are truly children with the same interests as they have.”

The charity continues to fundraise through a variety of means, one of which is by taking part in ‘Kiltwalk’ events.

Walks of six, 12 and 26 miles can be taken on to raise money for children’s charities in Scotland at events in Dundee and Edinburgh on August 20 and September 7 respectively.

For more information about Play as One Scotland and how to get involved, visit www.pa1s.org.uk, or find them on Facebook.