Public play parks across Aberdeenshire will be scrutinised as part of a new wide-ranging review, council chiefs announced last night.
Children and parents are being urged to get involved with the consultation, which is aimed at providing the area with best quality playzones in the right locations.
The review will involve a series of public meetings and presentations over the coming weeks, while participants can also get involved with an online survey.
Aberdeenshire Council has just under 450 play parks across the region. Some of the key elements which will be addressed in the review include safety, play value, maintenance and funding models.
Around £550,000 is spent on managing and maintaining council-owned facilities every year. Over half of that sum is needed to ensure the sites are properly inspected and repaired. A thorough safety inspection takes place each year to identify risks and check for defects.
The rest of the budget is available for upgrading and replacement of ageing equipment. There is little extra cash in the authority’s overall budget to spend on buying and installing new kit, however.
For example, a new set of swings would need around £5,000 while it would cost something in the region of £75,000 to refurbish a medium-sized play park with around ten new items.
Head of roads and landscape services, Philip McKay, said last night: “We’re keen to ensure that the investment we make in our play parks meets the long term needs and aspirations of our communities.”
Infrastructure services director Stephen Archer added: “We genuinely want to hear from as many people as possible, those who use the play parks in particular.
“These facilities have the capacity to help improve children’s learning, health and fitness as well as making our towns and villages more attractive places to be and we want to make sure they’re meeting the needs of residents and visitors.”
Schools’ pupil councils will also be included in the consultation to help give a voice to the shire’s younger generation.