The 50 Angus playparks under threat of closure received a stay of execution from Angus Council last night.
Councillors agreed to delay any decisions about which parks are scrapped until after a full public consultation.
SNP members accused the previous Angus Alliance administration of burying the report, which recommended that half of the region’s parks be removed, for two years.
Some councillors expressed concern about parks being axed and residents were encouraged to form community groups to save specific parks.
If the 50 sites earmarked for closure are removed, it would initially cost £140,000 but achieve a £31,500 a year saving in maintenance costs.
The council discussion came on the same day that an upgrade of the West Links play area in Arbroath was completed at a cost of £500,000.
Neighbourhood services convener Donald Morrison said: ”Some playparks are past their best, in areas where they are obsolete and some have newer, better equipped parks close by.
”We have to be honest with the public given this report has been hidden away for two years.”
Mr Morrison added: ”Some playparks on this list may have to be removed but the savings made will be focused on improving those remaining.
”If there are any community or residents groups willing to take on a playpark then this council will be keen to work with them.”
The public consultation will run in November and last for one month, with a follow-up report due before the neighbourhood services committee in January.
Montrose councillor David May said he could not support closing parks when there were increasing obesity and health problems among young people.
He said: ”Closing half the parks in Angus will only make these problems worse.”
Arbroath councillor Ewan Smith said he was ”angry and concerned” at the prospect of parks closing.
He said: ”We need to speak to the public about this we can’t just railroad it through.
”Closing parks and saying there are other facilities nearby isn’t good enough as far as I’m concerned.
”Some of the parks earmarked for closure are in areas where there a high concentration of children.
”Their families may not have transport to take them to other facilities.”