The council is to spend almost half a million pounds creating an inclusive and modern play area inspired by an old favourite in a Dundee park.
Play facilities at Camperdown Country Park are to have a face-lift if councillors approve a recommendation to go before the neighbourhood services committee this coming Monday.
Despite a menagerie of animals in the wildlife centre and a swinging golf course which runs alongside, the play area in Camperdown is still the most popular attraction in the park, according to the council.
Plans for the play area overall have been estimated to cost the local authority more than £423,000.
The proposals include the return of a large, boat-themed climbing frame – reminiscent of the popular old wooden play-ships previously “berthed” in the park which disappeared more than a decade ago.
Plans to fill in the former boating ponds have also been floated, as well as the construction of inclusive play equipment and a wheelchair boardwalk.
Russell Leisure have been recommended by the department to carry out the building of the ship, to the tune of just under £150,000.
Sutcliffe Play Scotland are to provide general play equipment, which will cost an estimated £108,988, with the council’s own neighbourhood services department unidertaking the civil and landscaping works which will be required.
If approved on Monday night, the council hopes to begin the playground’s overhaul on February 1, with the work due to be completed by July 1 this year.
In a report , executive director of neighbourhood services Elaine Zwirlein and head of environment Gary Robertson detail the importance of developing play opportunities for the city’s young people.
They said: “The Dundee Play Framework recognises the importance of play in children and young people’s daily lives and commits its partners to providing opportunities to play and the support to realise such opportunities.
“The proposed continued development of Camperdown park play area demonstrates the council’s commitment to supporting play opportunities in Dundee.”
The older play area featured wooden ships which recreated the historic Battle of Camperdown, so called after famous Dundee-born Naval leader 1st Viscount Adam Duncan of Camperdown.
Dundee City Council had originally identified the need for upgrades to the play area in the park in September 2012.
