Feedback sought to determine play park improvements across Gavinton, St Boswells, Newstead and Selkirk

Published: 1st August 2022

A consultation has been launched inviting Borderers to suggest what improvements they would like to see made to play parks across the Borders

Play areas at The Green in Gavinton, Jenny Moore's Road in St Boswells, The Orchard in Newstead and Bog Park in Selkirk will all receive investment this year as part of our play parks and outdoor community spaces programme.

As a result we are extremely keen to hear from communities to find out what improvements people would like to see including the types of equipment that will be installed.

Through the programme, we have committed to investing over £4million in play areas and outdoor community spaces over a seven year period to modernise the facilities on offer, enhance outdoor activity for all children and young people and improve community wellbeing.

To help ensure this is achieved, play areas will include items that are accessible for all such as wheelchair roundabouts, trampolines, ramped multi plays, basket swings and play panels.

The feedback will be used and developed in collaboration with the contractors responsible for delivering they improved play areas once they have been appointed.

Councillor John Greenwell, Executive Member for Roads Development and Maintenance 

“This next wave of improvements reinforces the Council’s commitment through the play parks and outdoor community spaces strategy to transform our play areas, making them more accessible than ever and improving community wellbeing.

“Encouraging children to get outside and active post-pandemic is extremely important and with the addition of more modern and more inclusive equipment we can really make a difference to the lives of our children and young people.

“I’d encourage as many people as possible to have their say as part of this consultation and gives us that all important feedback which will help shape what these facilities look like in the future.”

The consultation is now live  for residents to contribute to and will remain open for feedback until 18 August

Our investment in play parks and outdoor spaces has so far seen eight custom built and modern play facilities opened in the last four years. Last year saw two brand-new destination play parks opened in Peebles and Newtown St Boswells with a wide range of state-of-the-art equipment suitable for ages 3-14yrs.