Good things come to those who wait, and persevere through adversity perhaps.
Include Us as a group of local residents, professionals and parents have a dream. We are committed to designing, developing and delivering an inclusive and accessible play park and community garden at Catherine Street to ensure that ALL members of the community, regardless of age and ability can come together, play, learn, interact with each other and enjoy the benefits of our small wooded park in the centre of Dumfries.
We have been working hard for the past three years towards fulfilling that dream and making it a reality.
To do this we have had to overcome some difficulties and ensure that we are providing a resource that will suit the needs and purposes of as many people as possible. That is why we included as many people as possible in our ongoing consultation and information events, included people’s ideas and wishes within our design and set about securing the funding and planning permissions required to build a refurbished inclusive park and community garden.
The 13th of June 2019 marked another milestone in the process of delivering the park. Last week the Policy and Resources Committee of Dumfries and Galloway Council met and agreed our application for a Community Asset Transfer lease of 20 years.
This is fantastic news because it releases some of the funding that we have applied for has enabled us to set a date with our Contractors for the re-build of the park. We hope the work will start in mid-August and for the work to finish in time for the October school holiday break.
We have had fantastic support from a wide section of the community, and we thank you for sharing and participating in our dream and vision. We continue to need your support and ask that you join us as members of Include Us, as volunteers, and as users of the park. We are a membership charity and the more members who are supportive of our aims and objectives, the better. Please follow us on Facebook and check our website for future news, updates and events.
Dreams do come true. Dumfries will soon have its own inclusive and accessible green space, in the heart of the town.