We can finally say our NEW PLAY PARK is definitely happening because we have absolutely SMASHED our £3,000 target, we have raised just over £8,000 in total from all our fundraising events, business sponsorship and individual donations.

 

We started this journey 4 years ago when Fife Council told us the lifetime left on the old play park was 2 years. They told us at the time the cost of a new park would be £125k, a complete blow as no-one could imagine how we would fund that amount. We didn't let it put us off too much and started the process of holding consultations to find out what everyone wanted to see in a new park which we then fed back to Fife Council who got our "wish list" turned into a design. Early 2023 saw the unexpected removal of our lovely old park without warning. It felt like the heart had been ripped out of the village. This is when things really had to step up, the cost of the Park had increased by £10k, to £135k and the process began applying for grants and funding to try and secure the money needed. At the end of 2023 we heard back from our final grant application, they had awarded us less money than we had applied for AND they wanted us to raise £3k ourselves. So the task began finding the money to cover the shortfall and the fundraising campaign started. We organised events in our Village Hall, reached out to our amazing local businesses for support and recieved donations from far and wide showing us just how loved and missed our park was! We started our public fundraising campaign in January this year...a mere 4 months ago...and there was worries we wouldn't raise the £3k needed due to the cost of living crisis and how small a village we are, but we needn't have worried. We have been blown away from day one by the support we have received. The hard work and dedication of all our volunteers who have helped make this happen, it's felt like the village has been alive again. We really can't thank everyone enough! The additional funds will allow us to add an additional picnic bench and seating to the Play Park along with other non play equipment that was on the wishlist, it's a dream come true to be able to add these extras to make the park amazing!

 

Now it's just a waiting game, the latest update from Fife Council is that our design goes out to tender next week, quotes should be back within a month then the order will go in and if the weather can improve and reduce delays then we should be seeing our new Play Park installed in the Autumn! 

 

Keep following us on this page and we will update everyone when we know more...and we will see everyone at the park once its done