PARK OPENING EVENT SATURDAY 15th MARCH 2025
Press release:
On Saturday the 15th March the Dunvegan community came out in force to celebrate the official opening of their new park! The project began 6 years ago as an idea amongst parents around a kitchen table and fundraising began, formalising as a sub-group of Dunvegan Community Trust, with the support of the Community Council, in order to manage the large funding applications necessary, lease arrangements and insurance.
The project’s success was aided by the strong support of our local councillors. Attending Saturday’s event, Chair of Highland Council’s Isle of Skye and Raasay Committee Cllr John Finlayson said: “Skye and Raasay Councillors were delighted to support Dunvegan Community Park by awarding £37,500 Community Regeneration Funding and £30, 393 from the Council’s Play Park Fund and support of £40,000 through the UK Prosperity Fund administered by the council. This has been a real example of partnership working with very strong local commitment by the people of Dunvegan and it is great that the Highland Council was able to contribute substantial funding to support the fantastic efforts of local people that will make a great difference to local families and the wider community.”
Corporate Sponsorship for the project was received from Mowi, Rabbies, The DCF Community Cafe, Dunvegan Castle and Gardens, alongside funding from Dunvegan Community Trust through the Ben Aketil Windfarm fund. Katy Lawrence, Chair of Dunvegan Community Trust said “The Trust is thrilled to announce the opening of the new Community park. This Park is not just a space for play; it is a place for families to come together and for our community to grow stronger. A big thank you to our sponsors and supporters throughout the entire project and, most importantly, the community that made it happen! “
Nearly £20000 was raised locally through a combination of a crowdfunder and fundraising events, with great generosity shown by individuals, businesses and voluntary groups. Specific thanks must go to Inglis Mechanical Services, Kinloch Campsite, The Clan MacLeod Society & their members, Dunvegan Plant and Contracting Services, Isle of Skye Sea Salt Co, Loch Dunvegan Shellfish, and Lampay Chalets for their generous donations to the Crowdfunder, and to Duirinish Media and Culture Club, The Atholl Guest House, Blàs and The Revolting Crofters Social Club for fundraising for the project. Murdo’s Gardening Services, Skye Aggregates and the gardening team at Dunvegan Castle all volunteered services towards landscaping, alongside individual volunteers. Sarah MacAskill, one of the founding park fundraisers said “It’s so fantastic to have the park up and running, and seeing the kids having the such a good time makes all the effort over the years worth it.”
Dunvegan Community Trustee and founding park fundraiser Emma Jane Morrison said “If I can think of one word to describe this project it would be community – it has brought together so many- the children, mums and dads, grannies and granddads, old and new friends and local businesses. A huge thank you to you all.”
In mercifully fine weather, the 100 strong attendees were piped down to the park by Peter Morrison of the Peatbog Faeries, where they enjoyed hot chocolate and baking to the sounds of MANY children playing, the MacLoud Drumming Group and young local fiddle players, which all made for a jolly atmosphere. Everyone left happy, tired and elaborately decorated in face paint!
October 29th 2024- INSTALLATION IS IMMINENT!!
MAY 3RD 2024 – Following an amazing fundraising campaign, the Dunvegan Park Working Group has successfully raised the full amount for the refurbishment of the park at Lochside in Dunvegan
The park equipment will be ordered in the coming weeks and we’re aiming to have it installed in September. Huge thanks are owed to the volunteers on the Park Working group who have provided a fantastic example of what can be achieved with determination and co-operation, as well as to the local groups and businesses, corporate sponsors and government funding bodies who have supported the project.
UPCOMING DATES:
We need help to clear the site of weeds, bag up some bark chips, and gravel, spread topsoil and re-seed the park to ensure grass is established by September. Please come along if you can and lend a hand, and bring gloves, shovels, spades, and wheelbarrows if possible.
PARKING: PLEASE DO NOT PARK AT THE LOCHSIDE RESIDENTS’ PARKING OR OUTSIDE THE SHOPS AT LOCHSIDE. If possible drop off tools at the Park and leave your cars at the main carpark in the village and walk down! Otherwise the Church of Scotland kindly allows parking at the church, provided they don’t have a service on.
- Saturday 18th of May – Tidy up of the site, clearing weeds, spreading topsoil and re-seeding – we need established grass before September!
- Saturday 25th of May- Dependent on how much we manage to get done on the 18th, finishing the job.
- Date in Summer TBC (Once the grass has grown) A summer BBQ to celebrate and thank everyone for the their hard work and support
- Grand Opening – TBC but around the end of September, beginning of October.