Orkney's Destination Play Parks

Destination playparks should be able to bring the local community together as well as draw in people from other parts of Orkney. People are willing to travel to these destination playgrounds to provide their children with a one-of-a-kind play experience and enjoy a "change of scene". Destination playparks may incorporate a theme or include different/unusual elements while providing a place for all ages and abilities to gather.

We have seen from the Play Space Survey that people in Orkney are keen to travel by car or bus to a 'Destination' Play Park to enjoy alternative experiences to that available locally to them. In some cases, it may be because the local parks do not provide enough varied opportunities to play, are not age appropriate, not in a good condition or are too far away to walk or cycle. However, by making the trip to one of these parks, young people/families/friends will enjoy the other services that these local communities have to offer.

It is acknowledged that "south", many destination playparks seem like an extraordinary space with challenging, exciting facilities over a large open area. Whin Park in Inverness was mentioned as an aspiration of some of the young people that responded to the Orkney Playpark Survey.

This may be ambitious for Orkney, at the moment.

In Orkney, a Destination Park would provide a variety of play opportunities for most age groups in an accessible location with general amenities (seating/bins/toilets). Good transport links would be important and additional amenities/services available close by would enhance the overall visitor experience.

The Orkney Play Area Strategy identifies one council owned Destination Play Park, which is Summerdale in Kirkwall. The Strategy outlines an aspiration for Papdale East in Kirkwall and Marwick in Stromness to also be developed as Destination Parks.

A further 6 Play Parks on the Mainland of Orkney have been identified as Destination Parks.

Some of Orkney's island communities also host excellent play areas, which can be explored further  here .

And finally......