Publication - FOI/EIR release

Play park improvement funding: FOI release

Published: 14 February 2025
Directorate: Children and Families Directorate
Topic: Children and families, Public sector
FOI reference: FOI/202500446526
Date received: 3 January 2025
Date responded: 29 January 2025

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Information requested

How much money in total has the Scottish Government given out to help renew or improve play parks since 2021, with a breakdown per year and where the money went to?

How many play parks have been renewed/improved in this time, and list them?

Response

Question 1 - How much money in total has the Scottish Government given out to help renew or improve play parks since 2021, with a breakdown per year and where the money went to?

The Scottish Government has provided £35 million since May 2021: £5 million in year 2021/22, £5 million in year 2022/23, £10 million in year 2023/24 and £15 million in year 2024/25.

The following table shows allocation of funding to each local authority.

Local Authority	2021/22	2022/23	2023/24	2024/25
Aberdeen City Council	£188,000	£185,000	£373,000	£559,000
Aberdeenshire Council	£296,000	£308,000	£616,000	£924,000
Angus Council	£108,000	£111,000	£220,000	£330,000
Argyll and Bute	£76,000	£79,000	£157,000	£235,000
City of Edinburgh Council	£414,000	£406,000	£811,000	£1,216,000
Clackmannanshire Council	£47,000	£46,000	£93,000	£139,000
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Council	£29,000	£32,000	£62,000	£93,000
Dumfries and Galloway Council	£140,000	£146,000	£291,000	£437,000
Dundee City Council	£125,000	£122,000	£243,000	£365,000
East Ayrshire Council	£112,000	£112,000	£224,000	£336,000
East Dunbartonshire Council	£102,000	£100,000	£202,000	£303,000
East Lothian Council	£108,000	£108,000	£218,000	£327,000
East Renfrewshire Council	£102,000	£101,000	£204,000	£306,000
Falkirk Council	£147,000	£145,000	£289,000	£434,000
Fife Council	£344,000	£342,000	£681,000	£1,022,000
Glasgow City Council	£525,000	£514,000	£1,028,000	£1,542,000
Highland Council	£234,000	£245,000	£488,000	£732,000
Inverclyde Council	£65,000	£63,000	£126,000	£189,000
Midlothian Council	£98,000	£97,000	£197,000	£295,000
Moray Council	£92,000	£94,000	£188,000	£282,000
North Ayrshire Council	£118,000	£117,000	£231,000	£347,000
North Lanarkshire Council	£324,000	£319,000	£635,000	£952,000
Orkney Islands Council	£24,000	£26,000	£51,000	£77,000
Perth and Kinross Council	£140,000	£144,000	£291,000	£437,000
Renfrewshire Council	£158,000	£155,000	£307,000	£461,000
Scottish Borders Council	£113,000	£117,000	£234,000	£352,000
Shetland Islands Council	£28,000	£31,000	£61,000	£91,000
South Ayrshire Council	£94,000	£94,000	£189,000	£283,000
South Lanarkshire Council	£298,000	£296,000	£597,000	£896,000
Stirling Council	£84,000	£85,000	£168,000	£253,000
West Dunbartonshire Council	£81,000	£79,000	£157,000	£235,000
West Lothian Council	£186,000	£184,000	£369,000	£553,000

Question 2 – How many play parks have been renewed/improved in this time and list them.

Local Authorities report annually every April on their play park renewals. A total of 887 play parks have been renewed, or are in the process of being renewed, up to April 2024. Local Authorities are not required to list the names or locations of every play park that has been renewed.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. However, you may wish to contact each local authority separately who may be able to help you. The reasons why we do not have the information are explained in the Annex to this letter.

Local authority	Name of Play Parks renewed or in progress of being renewed
Aberdeen City Council	Sluie Drive; Central Park; Balgownie Drive; Ashgrove Housing; Balnagask Circle; Airyhall; Mastric Drive; Gordons Mills Drive; Albury Place; Derbeth Park; Sunnybank Park. Data on remaining play parks renewed unavailable.
Aberdeenshire Council	Data unavailable.
Angus	MacDonald Park; Friockheim Park; Spink Street Play Area. Data on remaining play parks unavailable.
Argyll and Bute	Data unavailable.
City of Edinburgh Council	West Princes Street Gardens. Data on remaining play parks unavailable.
Clackmannanshire Council	Forestmill Play Area; Abercromby Park, Tullibody; West End Park; Alexander Park; Smithfield Alloa; Johnstone Park Alva; Menstrie Park; Muirside Tullibody.
Comhairlenan Eilean Siar Council	Data unavailable.
Dumfries and Galloway	Rosevale; Broomhouse Road; Millhousebridge; Agnew Park; New Abbey Park; Victory Park; Castlehill Park; Canonbie Park. Data on remaining play parks unavailable
Dundee City	Balgowan Ave; Baxter Park; Camperdown Park; Carlochie Place; Clatto Park; Claypotts Park; Fairmuir Park; Fintry Drive; Fintryside; Hilltown Park; Mill O Mains Park; Peebles Drive; Sandeman Street; South Road; Stobsmuir Park; Bridge St; Malcolm St; Orchar Park; Roseangle; Stirling St; Tranent Grv; Brackens.
East Ayrshire	Data Unavailable.
East Dunbartonshire	Meadowburn Park, Bishopbriggs; Woodhead Park, Kirkintilloch; Doune Crescent, Bishopbriggs; Mosshead Play Park, Bearsden; Torrance Main Street, Torrance; Springfield Park, Bishopbriggs; Dougalston Gardens, Milngavie; Keystone Park, Milngavie; Eastside Park, Kirkintilloch; Luggie Park, Kirkintilloch; King George V Park, Bearsden; Kincaid Park, Milton of Campsie.
East Lothian	Neilson Park, Haddington; Lewisvale Park, Musselburgh; Yellowcraig, Dirleton; Whitecraig Play Area, Whitecraig; Lauderdale Park Play Area, Dunbar; Muirpark Play Area, Tranent. Data on remaining play parks unavailable.
East Renfrewshire	Seres Road; Trees Park; Aurs Drive; Overlee Play Area, Clarkston; Busby Glen Play Area, Busby; Cowan Park Play Area, Barrhead; Carlibar Play Area, Barrhead; McDiarmid Park, Barrhead; Thornliebank Playing Fields; Easterton Ave., Busby, Cowan Park, Bhd.
Falkirk	Avonbridge; Standburn; South View play area, Stenhousemuir; Herbertshire Castle Park, Dunipace; Douglas Park; Victoria Park; King George V Park; Gairdoch Park; Quarry Park; Muiravonside play area; Laurie Park; California Park; Anderson Park, Bonnybridge; South Alloa; Callendar Park; Little Carriden; Tamfourhill Toddlers; Wallacestone.
Fife	Leuchars Meadow Road; New Gilston; St Andrews Kinburn Park; Coaltown of Wemyss; West Wemyss; Arncoach; Leslie West Park Avenue; Ravenscraig Park; Crossgates Humbug Park; Scobie Place Dunfermline; Dalgety Bay Inchmickery; Cowdenbeath Perth Road; Tarvit Pond, Cupar; Pitlessie Public Park; Castle Terrace, Levenmouth; The Haugh, Levenmouth; Leslie West, Glenrothes; Camdean, Rosyth; Arncroach Play Area; Adams Pk; Newburgh; Burntisland Water Play; Glenlyon, Leven; Dunshalt, Burntisland; Paton St, Burntisland; Dunnikier; (Kirkcaldy); Milton of Balgonie. Data on remaining play parks unavailable.
Glasgow	Pollok Country Park; Raeswood Road; Bonnyholm Avenue; Tobago Street; Dorchester Avenue; Ashtree Park; Kelvingrove Park; Glasgow Green Play Village; Govanhill Park Play Area; Garrowhill Park Toddler Play Area; Cavendish Street Play Area; Kings Park Play Area; Budhill Park Play Area. Data on remaining play parks unavailable.
Highland	Milton of Drumnadrochit; Druimlon; Kirkhill; Ardbrek; Lochiel; Cameron Drive; Nairn Links; Saltburn; Woodlands Drive Milton; Shillinghill Alness; MacDonald Road Dingwall; Roy Bridge; Druimlon; Abertarff; Leachkin Road; Bellfield Park; Esk Road; Ardbreck; Eight Acres; Burn Brae; Victoria Road; Inchree; King George V Fortrose; Chapel Street Portmahomack; Football park Conon bridge; Helmsdale; Ardvasar; Dunveagan; Haster; Muirfield park Brora; King George V Golspie; Lochside Lairg. Data on remaining play parks unavailable.
Inverclyde	Greenock Wellpark; Albert Road, Gourock; King Street, Gourock; Coronation Park, Port Glasgow; Lunderston Bay, Gourock; Craigend, Greenock; Battery Park; Wemyss Bay; Grieve Road; Lauriston Park; Upper Oronsay. Data on remaining play parks unavailable.
Midlothian	Waterfall Park; v Kings Park; Dougal Court, Mayfield; Clarinda Gardens, Dalkeith; Birkenside Park, Gorebridge; Memorial Park, Loanhead; Main Park, Easthouses; Gowkshill Park, Newtongrange; Staiside Park, Bonnyrigg; D’hall Park, Danderhall; Burnside Play Pk, Gorebridge; Bilston; Cornbank, Penicuik; Oak Crescent, Mayfield; Queensway LC, Penicuik; Shade Park, Dalkeith; Waverly Park, Bonnyrigg; Arniston Park, Gorebridge; Carrington; Cockpen View, Bonnyrigg; Cousland Village; Cowden Park, Dalkeith; Edgehead Village; Ladywood, Penicuik; KGV Bonnyrigg; Penicuik Park, Penicuik; Roslin Park; Rosewell. Data on remaining play parks unavailable.
Moray	Hopeman Play Park; Morven play park, Findochty; Rothes play park, Rothes; Lossiemouth Playing Field, Lossiemouth; Ferrier Terrace, Elgin; Mayne Park, Elgin; Logie play park, Cullen; Mannachie Play Park, Forres; Letterfourie, Buckie; Tomnavoulin, Speyside; Tomintoul, Speyside; Well Road, Buckie; Duffus Play Park, Duffus.
North Ayrshire	Data Unavailable.
North Lanarkshire	Dunalastair Drive, Stepps; Airdrie Leisure Centre; Kirklee Road, Belshill; George Street, Motherwell; Frood Street, Motherwell; Doon Street, Motherwell; Fir Place, Wishaw; Loaning; Livingston Park; Scarhill Street; Millerston Recreation Ground; Kirkshaws, Coatbridge; The Loaning, Motherwell; Livingston Park Kilsyth; Hartwood Shotts. Data on remaining play parks unavailable.
Orkney	Orkney Skate Park; Brandyquoy Play area; Marwick; Eday.
Perth and Kinross	North Inch, Perth; Larghan Victory Park, Coupar Angus; Victoria Park, Aberfeldy; Auchterarder Primrose Park; Glenfarg Wallace Park; Perth Farmer Flockhart’s Field Muirton; Bridge of Earn Victory Park; Scotlandwell; Rattray Westfield Common; Kinross Davies Park. Data on remaining play parks unavailable.
Renfrewshire	Barwood Park Play Area, Erskine; Maxwellton Park, Newton Street, Paisley; Lochwinnoch Park Play Area, Lochwinnoch; Campbell Street Play Area, Renfrew; Ferguslie Gardens Bottom Play Area, Paisley; Station Road Play Area and Outdoor Gym, Langbank; Jenny’s Well Play Area, Paisley; Glebe Street Play Area, Renfrew; Anne Avenue Play Area, Renfrew; Urquhart Crescent Play Area, Renfrew; Victory Gardens Play Area, Renfrew; Miller Street Play Area, Johnstone.
Scottish Borders	Newtown St Boswells Play Park; Duns Park; Gavinton; St Boswells; Selkirk; Newstead.
Shetland Islands	King George V play area, Lerwick; Happyhansel Primary School, Walls. Data on remaining play parks unavailable.
South Ayrshire Council	Troon esplanade; Fullarton Woods, Troon; Dailly Road, Maybol; Wilson Park, Tarbolton; Prestwick shorefront; Victory Park, Girvan. Data on remaining play parks unavailable.
South Lanarkshire	Data Unavailable.
Stirling	Data Unavailable.
West Dunbartonshire	Silverton Play Park, Dumbarton; Christie park; Kirkoswald park; Stuart Avenue, Old Kilpatrick; High Mains, Dumbarton; Firthview Park, Dumbarton; Levengrove Park. Data on remaining play parks unavailable.
West Lothian	Blaeberryhill Play Area; Tippetknowe Play Area; Springfield Play Area; Dechmont

ANNEX

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested

Question 2 - The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because the Scottish Government does not request a list of, or the names of, play parks renewed in the reporting template completed by local authorities annually. Each local authority will have the information you are looking for.

As such, I hereby provide you with formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have all of the information you have requested.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

Contact

Please quote the FOI reference
Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000

The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

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