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Balnain Play Park Refurbishments

Proposal code: THC-2026-05-127

We are a small group of parent volunteers who are trying to secure funding to save our playpark in Balnain, maintaining it as a place for the community to play and connect.

Loss of Existing Facilities

The refurbishment of Balnain Play Park will deliver wide-ranging social, health and community benefits to residents of Glenurquhart and Strathglass. The current play equipment has been condemned and is due to be removed, leaving a significant gap in accessible outdoor recreational provision for children and families in Balnain. Without replacement, local children, particularly those attending Balnain Primary School will lose a vital space for physical activity, social interaction and outdoor play. This project ensures that children do not miss out and that the area retains a safe, inclusive and stimulating environment for play.

Enhances Relationships Across Generations

The children at Balnain Primary use the park almost every day after school.  It is a place where the children can have free play while their parents can socialise and younger siblings can enjoy getting to know the other children. This aids the transition from Nursery to School for the younger children, encouraging them to be more confident, resilient and develop friendships before starting school.

Quality of life The project will directly contribute to the quality of life for local families, particularly young people, by providing a safe and engaging outdoor space. It also provides a valuable outdoor resource for the school and wider community. It also provides a suitable environment for the parents to gather after school to discuss parent council business, without the need to arrange childcare. This is an important aspect of family life for Balnain pupils.

Community Cohesion The play park is a key community asset that brings families together and encourages interaction across generations. By restoring and enhancing this space, the project will strengthen community connections and contribute to a more vibrant and resilient local area. The project is being led by a subgroup of the Parent Council, demonstrating strong local involvement, volunteer commitment and community input.

Rural Opportunities The refurbished play park will be freely accessible to all children and families in Balnain, Glenurquhart, Strathglass and the surrounding rural area, including those who may have limited access to transport or alternative facilities. This is particularly important in a rural setting where opportunities for accessible recreation can be limited. As the cost-of-living increases and particularly for families living rurally, where it is necessary to travel to access amenities, it is fundamental that park provision continues to be an asset to the community.

Refurbishing the park will ensure that local children have equal access to safe, modern play equipment without needing to travel further afield. Many of the children can walk to the park, providing an opportunity to foster independence in an area that would otherwise be difficult.

By investing in local infrastructure, the project helps reduce inequality and supports families to live, work and remain in the area contributing to long-term community sustainability.

The wider plans for the park, beyond playpark equipment is to create a space for the whole community to engoy. Creating a covered seating area for games and gatherings, raised beds to encorage community gardening and a green space to connnect with nature and unwind.

Having such a lovely playpark in such a great central location, just across from the school, will hopefully help more families to decide to move here, therefore securing the future of our wonderful wee school, Balnain Primary.

We have currently (at time of writing) secured £30,000 funding from the Highland Council towards replacement equipment, but there is a significant shortfall that would result in a reduced and inadequate play provision. THe nest steps are to reach out to additional funders to secure the required additional funds to save the park, ensuring a more complete and inclusive redevelopment, delivering a higher-quality facility that meets the needs of the whole community rather than a minimal replacement, which could encourage residents to travel further afield instead.

We have been through a tendering process with playpark equipment providers and are currently consulting the coumminity on their proposed designs and quotes. Subject to securing adequate funding we hope to complete the project this finacial year (2026/27) with aim to complete the main instalation in October 2026.

• Playpark
• Community Hub
• Youth Spaces & Activities

• City of Inverness & Inverness-shire