Gatehouse Development Initiative has been busy raising funds for the project in Garries Park.

A new £250,000 inclusive playpark in Gatehouse is on the verge of becoming a reality.

Gatehouse Development Initiative has been busy raising funds after the council provided £125,000 towards the scheme.

And with the final pieces of the funding package falling into place, the Garries Park project is about to go out for tender.

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GDI funding project leader Tarena Dickie, who has been instrumental in other play projects in the town, said: “I’ve mainly focused on doing a lot of funding applications as I knew we needed a large amount of money.

“We’ve been very fortunate – the last three funders have come on board one after the other – which is unheard of.

“We’ve been working with kids and community groups to see what everyone wanted. Kids have been part of it from day one because, as far as I’m concerned, it’s their project.

“They wanted better access, for it to be more inclusive, a changing places facility and a playpark to upgrade and enhance the area.

“We’re trying to put in something for everyone and make it more inclusive for people who are maybe more disadvantaged.”

Work on upgrading the toilets to include a changing places facility has been underway and is due to be finished by this weekend.

Once complete, the park will offer equipment for kids of all ages – from toddlers to teenagers.

On Saturday, a joint bake sale and car wash raised £481 for the project, with Stealth Competitions running a fundraising draw and the Coastal Benefit Fund among the grant providers.

With an extra £20,000 help covering additional costs for the new toilets and the project going to tender, additional funds will be used for extras – such as more equipment or wheelchair accessible picnic benches.

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Tarena added: “I’ve done a couple of projects for the town already working with Jim McCrossan and Ingrid Gemmell from the council.

“I feel sorry for the council sometimes, they get a bit of a hard time but with this one they’ve been very much part of it and very encouraging. I think they want towns to take community ownership.

“There isn’t a lot of money but every now and then pots of money become available and it’s good to have some community ownership as you get to say what you want and don’t want in the town you live in.”