Wishaw Community Priorities Highlights 26/27

A Local Development Programme proposal was raised by our community partnership team to fund the replacement and upgrade of Waverley Drive Play Area, fondly known as the old Donkey Park. Consultation delivered included a survey opened on 30 August 2024 with a closing date of 20 October 2024, to target the wider local community, parents and partners; distributed via MyWishaw and our corporate social media platforms and by email to a number of local community groups, organisations and partners who shared the survey on their socials and local network channels.  

Letters providing details of this refurbishment were distributed to households within the required radius surrounding the site by the project team prior to work commencing. These letters incorporated access to the survey and provided information around the project. A total of 151 responses were collected from this survey. We also planned and delivered school workshops with groups of children from the age range of 4 up to 11 years old within St Ignatius Primary School to capture the views of children in order to ensure a sense check of what they actually want for their play area. A total of 16 children participated in these workshops to help with the design and themes of the play area.  

Further engagement was delivered in local schools in design-a-sign workshops where children and young people from the 3 schools were given the opportunity to participate in a design competition to design the new play area sign with their artwork. The winning entry for the design of the sign had their design made into the sign and was presented with a prize and a mini version of the sign they can keep showcasing their achievement.

Children and families in Coltness welcomed the official opening of the replacement play area in the village. The facility replaces the previous play area in Waverley Drive, fondly known locally as the Donkey Park, where children, who were involved in the design of the play area, along with children from the nearby St Ignatius Primary School, were invited to celebrate the official opening of this wonderful facility. The Convenor of Communities, Councillor Geraldine Woods, along with local Councillors Fiona Fotheringham and Frank McKay, also attended to celebrate this local capital investment.

The project was developed by the community partnership team, working closely with pupils from local primary schools and the wider community.

The play facility has a bespoke designed multi-play unit in the theme of a donkey in line with the communities wishes incorporating a double width slide, a tunnel bridge, climbing ramp and climbing pole. The facility also includes a further junior multi-play unit with large slide and climbing wall and net, a set of varying swings including a basket swing, an inclusive roundabout, trampoline, a springer and a pyramid rope climber. A new picnic bench has also been installed to create seating for adults and families to enjoy the park.

The play area sign was designed by a primary 4 pupil and a primary 6 pupil from St Ignatius Primary School, who won the ‘Design-a-Sign’ competition, and officially opened the park. The official opening took place in May 2026. The project delivered a new play area for children and families to use.