Phase 2 play park official opening!

Thank you to everyone who came along to our official Phase 2 play park opening event on a warm and sunny afternoon yesterday. What a fantastic atmosphere and sense of community spirit!

Gavin Scott, Chair of the Strathpeffer Residents' Association and Community Park Project thanked the many volunteers, funders, local businesses and supporters who made this second phase of play park possible. He also outlined our plans for the future, including a cycle pump track and technical trail, shelter for teens and parents/carers, and even the possibility of a play park Phase 3 at some point. He particularly recognized the hard work of our community volunteers and the park Committee who spend many hours writing funding applications, managing contracts, litter picking, landscaping, grass cutting and much more. We couldn't have done it without you!

Park Committee member Averil Milligan then spoke in more detail of our plans for the exciting extension to the bike area, which we hope to secure funding for and deliver in autumn/winter this year.

Maree Todd, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, who has recently become Minister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy and Sport, gave a celebratory speech. As a previous Strathpeffer resident she reflected on the importance of outdoor community play spaces for children and families in the village and celebrated the immense community effort that has made the play park possible. She was also excited to hear about our plans to expand grass-roots cycling facilities in the park, recognising Strathpeffer's rich cycling heritage, including Commonwealth Games and Paralympic Games medalists in recent years. Many thanks to Maree for her inspiring words.

Thank you again to everyone who helped make the event itself such a success including the Strathpeffer Guides and Rangers for their fantastic face painting skills, Dexter for cutting all the grass, Averil for making a super selection of sandwiches, Tim and Corrine for baking, Pegs for managing all the invitations, Miranda for officiating the ribbon cutting ceremony, Mac for sprucing up the bike track, Gavin for pushing himself out of his comfort zone with public speaking, Dave for taking photos and, of course, to all the children, parents/carers and supporters who gave the event such a special atmosphere.