Current status: Answered by Natalie Don on 27 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its planned investment of £60 million for the modernisation and restoration of play parks over the course of the current parliamentary term, whether it will provide an update on play park renovation across the country, including how much has been allocated each year since 2021.
The Scottish Government is investing £60 million to renew play parks in Scotland, so children have access to free, high-quality outdoor play in their own communities. Since funding began in 2021, a total of 887 play parks have been renewed or are in the process of being renewed by local authority partners. To support the delivery of the programme we agreed with CoSLA and our local authority partners a suite of national principles to guide and inform the renewal programme. The national principles set out how local authorities should review their existing estate, prioritise renewal work and design play parks that offer improved play opportunities for children and families. At the heart of the national principles is the recommendation for local authorities to engage with children and families within the local communities to inform delivery of a renewal that meets the needs of local people.
Funding to support the Play Parks renewal programme has been allocated as follows:
2021-22 - £5 million
2022-23 - £5 million
2023-24 - £10 million
2024-25 - £15 million