A NEW children’s play area is to be created in Lewisvale Park at Musselburgh, after more than 700 schoolchildren took part in a consultation on the plan.
Situated across from the toddlers’ play area at the main entrance side of the park, opposite Musselburgh Grammar School, the new facility will have a range of about 14 pieces of equipment for primary age youngsters up to teenagers.
Attractions will include a zip wire ride, swings, climbing apparatus with slides, an accessible roundabout which wheelchair users can use, and a workout area with outdoor gym-style equipment.
The surface of the play area would be made up of woodchips and an area of wet-pour rubber adjacent to the wheelchair-accessible roundabout.
A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said that grant funding from the Scottish Government of £108,000 was received as part of the council’s play area improvements fund which would cover the bulk of the costs for the Lewisvale play area.
She added: “More than 700 children across Musselburgh took part in earlier consultation on what would be contained within the play area, with more than 400 selecting the final design.
“The equipment has now been ordered but supply time is quite long so work is not expected to begin before the end of the year, and expected to take around two months to complete.”
Councillor Colin McGinn, cabinet spokesperson for community wellbeing and sport, countryside and leisure, said: “This new play area will be a welcome addition to Lewisvale Park and I am grateful to the many young people who contributed their ideas and suggestions for the design and equipment to be installed.
“The separate toddlers’ play area in Lewisvale has been a well-used feature since it was installed a few years ago and which won the Musselburgh Conservation Society’s 2017 Design Award.
“I’m sure the new play area for primary-aged children up to teenagers will prove to be just as popular when it opens.”
Planning approval has been given for the play area. The application, submitted on behalf of East Lothian Council’s amenity services, attracted no public objections.
A planning report stated: “The application proposal would not amount to a loss of recreational space. Rather it would allow for the enhancement of the recreational space, creating a new children’s playground and exercise area which would add to the overall attractiveness of the public park, and meeting the needs of the local community. The proposals would not harm the residential amenity of any neighbouring residential properties.”
