- Eoropie Dunes Park is located on the most north-westerly point in Britain, in Ness and located on machair grassland, Green Gym Days are organised where volunteers help with environmental conservation work; a Stream Clean and wildflower planting take place every year.
- Newmarket Play Park has an impressive selection of playground equipment, we counted 22 items, the park is also the start point of a circular moorland walk, and the committee have won a local volunteer of the year award.
- Aline Forest Play Park, Eoropie Dunes Park and the Woodlands Play Park are owned and managed by separate Community Land Trusts.
- Bayhead Play Park is the oldest playpark in the Outer Hebrides and once had a Maypole, young people used to go to the park to wash their face in the dew on the 1 st of May every year.
- There are three Skate Ramps in the Outer Hebrides: two on Lewis at Bayhead Play Park, Stornoway and at Eoropie Dunes Park, Ness; and one on Benbecula at Balivanich Community Playpark.
- Lochmaddy Community Play Park; Daliburgh Play Park; Tong Play Area and Eoropie Dunes Park all have boat-themed play equipment reflecting the Islands maritime heritage
Key Development Messages
The points below highlight some key development messages arising from the draft PSA and, these will be reviewed and informed by public consultation.
- We have assessed the quality, quantity and accessibility of play facilities throughout the whole area, and have identified a number of gaps in provision and places which could benefit from improvement and upgrade;
- To focus resources effectively throughout the overall area, CnES assessed the extent and condition of play facilities in the Outer Hebrides and scheduled eleven play parks for dismantling. The reasons for these decisions are varied but include redevelopment or repurposing of the site; replacement of similar facilities in another area; lack of use/identified need; poor condition of existing equipment and safety concerns. It is hoped that some of these formal spaces can be refurbished by community groups or retained as open green space for play, for recreation and to increase biodiversity;
- Local community groups have expressed an interest in taking over and developing existing playparks: Northbay, Barra; Ford Terrace, Creagorry, Benbecula; Cuidhe na Gamhna, Iochdar, South Uist; at Bayhead, North Uist, and at Seaview Terrace, Stornoway, Lewis;
- The assessment highlighted the need to investigate opportunities for opening the existing play park at Daliburgh School, South Uist during out of school hours;
- Assessment revealed that some play areas are not wheelchair accessible due to their location, for example Leverburgh Play park, Harris is accessed on an incline;
- There is a need for an all-ability access play area for children in Harris;
- There is a gap in provision in Shawbost, west side of Lewis families and children must travel to Breasclete or Ness to access play facilities;
- The play area at Vatisker, Lewis is not easily accessible for children in wheelchairs;
- The PSA identified a gap in provision in Broadbay, Lewis, requirement for a suitable site to be identified near the Back Football & Recreation Club;
- A lack of inclusive play equipment was evident at many sites;
- There is a lack of toilet facilities, including disabled toilet facilities at play areas, provision would enable families with younger or special needs children to stay longer;
- Although the Comhairle currently maintains some HHP owned playparks and assists with the upgrade of some community managed play areas, there remains some ambiguity over ownership and maintenance responsibility for some sites. It would be helpful to clarify the ownership and maintenance responsibility for all designated play parks in the Outer Hebrides.