Thursday June 11th 2026
community members, representatives from the Athelstaneford Community Group, staff from the council’s Amenity Services team, and pupils from Athelstaneford Primary School at the event
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Members of the community gathered today to celebrate the renewal of a children’s playpark in Athelstaneford.
The play area in the village park, which is owned and managed by East Lothian Council, has been transformed by the installation of a range of challenging, exciting, and inclusive new play equipment for different ages and abilities.
Councillor Colin McGinn joined youngsters from the local nursery and Athelstaneford Primary School to mark the successful completion of the work.
Representatives from the Athelstaneford Community Group, who led the project, and the council’s Amenity Services team, who worked in partnership with the group’s volunteers, also attended today’s event.
The playpark renewal – which was spearheaded by the local community – received £39,825 in funding from the FCC Communities Foundation and £37,025 from the council’s Community Intervention Fund.
In addition, the council recently installed a new raised table crossing and access gate into the park at the Mansefield junction in response to concerns about vehicle speeds and a new path along a field edge which improved access while creating a traffic-free route for school pupils walking to the park for PE lessons. The £60,000 cost of these elements was covered by Transport Scotland via the Active Travel Infrastructure Fund Tier 1.
Cllr McGinn, the council’s Cabinet Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing and Sport, Countryside and Leisure, said: “I’m delighted to see first-hand how much enjoyment children and young people are getting from this brilliant facility. The youngsters here today were able to share their views and help shape the design of the playpark and I’m glad they are pleased with the results.
“I’d like to pay tribute to the Athelstaneford Community Group for all their hard work and dedication, as well as the efforts of our Amenity Services team and the funding from the FCC Communities Foundation, the council, and other organisations and individuals. Together they’ve brought a great deal of joy to the village for years to come.”
The Athelstaneford Community Group was formed to bring forward initiatives in the village such as the regeneration of the park. Its volunteers developed a community-led masterplan for the park, identified the renewal of the children’s play area as a priority and secured funding for the delivery of the new playpark.
Group member Chris Brace said: “It is fantastic to see the community’s vision for the park start to become a reality on the ground. The feedback from children and parents in the village has been tremendously positive and they are clearly enjoying the new playpark facilities. These improvements were only possible through the partnership developed with East Lothian Council and with support from Haddington & District Community Council and our generous funders.”
The new equipment includes a climbing frame with a rope bridge and slides, a cableway (flying fox), a wheelchair accessible roundabout, a ‘nest’ swing, and a bespoke Athelstaneford ‘village shop’ play panel.
The existing equipment, which had reached the end of its lifespan, was removed by council staff. FCC Communities Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that supports projects through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund.
Cheryl Raynor, FCC Communities Foundation Grant Manager, said: “We are delighted to have supported the transformation of Athelstaneford playpark, creating a fun, inclusive and engaging space for children of all ages and abilities.
“This project highlights the positive impact of the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund, enabling investment in community-led initiatives that deliver lasting benefits. It is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when local people come together with a shared vision, and we are proud to play a part in bringing this to life for the village.”
Along with the funding from the FCC Communities Foundation and the council, the project could not have proceeded without contributions from Haddington & District Community Council, Caz’s Kiddies in the Country Nursery, and generous donations from members of the community.
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