Play area prizes for Erin and Megan

Erin Baily of Cumbernauld Primary won the first prize and runner-up was Megan Welsh-Rennie from St Andrew’s.

Erin’s design is now on show as the new sign at the park and she also received a copy to keep for herself. The park, located off Eastfield Road next to the joint campus for the two schools, was formally opened by Councillor Stephen Grant, chairman of the North Local Area Partnership, who presented the children with their prizes.

The play area is designed for all ages and abilities, with a trampoline, swings, roundabout, megaphone, orb rattle and crazy mirror panels as well as a multi-activity unit with a slide.

For older children there is a double cableway, disc roundabout and basket swing. A key feature is a climbing net, leading up to a sky cabin and tube slides.

The project is the result of a £296,500 investment by North Lanarkshire Council, including £73k from WREN, a not-for-profit business that awards grants to community projects from funds donated by FCC Environment to the Landfill Communities Fund. Other partners included The Friends of Cumbernauld Community Park and CultureNL.

Councillor Jim Logue, convener of learning and leisure services, said: “We are delighted to be able to provide this new play facility for Cumbernauld. It offers a wide range of play opportunities to encourage physical activity and challenges for our children and young people. It is another step forward in our strategy to improve play facilities for children and young people throughout North Lanarkshire.”

Peter Cox, managing director of WREN said: “The new play facility will provide a fantastic space for local people to get outdoors and have some fun. We’re delighted to have been able to support the Friends of Cumbernauld Community Park and the council, to make this project happen. We hope the people of Cumbernauld will enjoy it for years to come”.