CALA Homes (West) has teamed up with Houston Play Park Improvement Group to help plans for a ‘Helicopter Park’ take off in the village.
The group received £1,000 from the award-winning housebuilder after it became aware of their exciting aim to improve village youngsters’ play experience and deliver a transformed South Mounds site next to the Compass Centre.
Its members – made up of local parents – have ambitious plans including the delivery of facilities for children who have impaired mobility as well as multi-gym equipment for all ages.
They want to heighten access to the South Street park with a new ramp, install picnic benches, and introduce raised vegetable beds in a community garden setting.
The group has set itself a summer 2021 target to deliver on the plans which it hopes to fulfil through wide-ranging fundraising initiatives and a JustGiving page set up specially for the purpose.
During the run-up to the recent general election, they asked local youngsters to get involved in a ballot box vote on what they would christen the facility. They chose Helicopter Park in tribute to a piece of play equipment which was once part of the site, leaving only a slide and swings.
The group was first inspired by a successful campaign to improve Crosslee Swings Park which was completed in 2015 after an £80,000 fundraising drive – and the Houston fundraisers are hopeful of emulating that target.
They now plan to hold further events such as an afternoon tea, an Easter egg hunt on April 12, and even want to publish a cookbook, including a recipe which they’ve personally received from celebrity chef Tom Kitchin.
Group chair Sam Love said: “It’s really important to us that we improve facilities here as there isn’t much for little ones. The park is simply crying out for new equipment and so we set out on this journey to do as much fundraising as possible while applying for grants and charitable help.
“Donations are therefore vital and we’d like to thank CALA for its £1,000 contribution which has represented a big step forward in our fundraising ambitions. We’re now a lot closer to where we want to be.”
Andrew Duncan, land director at CALA Homes, commented: “Supporting fantastic initiatives like Helicopter Park is essential to the communities in which we work and we look forward to further building our relationship with the village.
“The group have been really welcoming and we’ve been impressed by the depth of their ambition. They want to create a wonderfully inclusive environment which will impact generations to come. We now look forward to hearing how the park develops and firmly believe the sky is the limit for Helicopter Park.”