Southside Housing Association leads the way for Green Space in Cardonald
Project is being led by Southside Housing Association with support from a range of funders.
A community in Cardonald is celebrating the start of works to create the Halfway Community Park. The project is being led by Southside Housing Association, with support from a range of funders to deliver the £2.2 million project.
The park, which sits to the south of the Moss Heights flats, will transform the area by introducing a toddlers’ play area, community and games zone, natural and adventure play area, additional trees and shrubs, seating, improved pedestrian access through the site, and the creation of ‘homezones’ to allow local children to play safely and away from vehicles.
At a celebratory event to mark the start of the project Margaret McIntyre, Chairperson of Southside Housing Association, said: “We’re delighted to finally secure the funds to transform this part of the neighbourhood, and we look forward to the seeing many families both now and in the future benefiting from this fantastic new resource.”
Southside Housing Association have invested £500,000 in the project, however significant work has gone into working with other partners and funders to secure the full funding package.
The project is part of a major new £37.5 million Scottish programme of projects to improve the urban environment of larger towns and cities. The Green Infrastructure Strategic Intervention led by Scottish Natural Heritage and part funded through the European Regional Development Fund has contributed £893,000 towards the project.
Iain Rennick, Head of the Green Infrastructure Fund for SNH, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Southside Housing Association to deliver this project and all the benefits it will bring to the Cardonald community.
“It is well recognised that improving greenspace in urban areas not only brings environmental benefits but also health, economic and social benefits, too.
“We have a tremendous opportunity, through the ERDF funding available to us over the next few years, for this project, and other projects around Scotland, to further demonstrate this.”
Glasgow City Council has also been a key partner and has contributed £673,200.
Councillor Kenny McLean, Convener for Neighbourhoods, Housing and Public Realm, said: “Halfway Community Park is testament to the power of partnership working that will see an underused area of urban greenspace completely transformed and thoughtfully repurposed for the benefit of local people.
“As part of the Glasgow City Deal funded Surface Water Management Plan for Hillington and Cardonald, integrating drainage interventions with work to enhance the landscape in this way will reduce flood risk and open up new possibilities for further regeneration in the area.”
Councillor Alex Wilson said: “I’m absolutely delighted that work has now started to create this valuable community asset for the people of Cardonald. I know how hard all those involved have worked to progress these plans that will deliver a multitude of environmental and social benefits for local people.
WREN, a not for profit business that awards grants for community, biodiversity and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund, has contributed £100,000 towards the natural and adventure play project within the Park. ENV2 Funds of £34,000 (contractor contributions held by Glasgow City Council) have also contributed towards play equipment. Avondale Environmental, part of the NPL Group, through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund, has contributed £20,000 towards the creation of the Moss Heights Avenue toddler play project within the Park. The Glasgow Tree Lovers’ Society has contributed £2,500 towards the planting of around 100 trees across the site.
Local resident and Chairperson of the Friends of the Halfway Community Park Alison Devlin said: “This money will help the area as there’s nothing for the kids to do.
“When all the changes are made, it will be a nicer place for all the kids to play, and, hopefully, we’ll see more of the community out and about getting involved.”
RJ McLeod started work on the construction of the Park in March and it will conclude by September 2019.