Help Shape the Future of Papdale

Orkney Islands Council is supporting Papdale East Playpark Association (PEPA) to progress the ‘Help Shape the Future of Papdale’ project to its next stage.

Over the last year, PEPA have been searching for external grant funding to help improve the play area at Papdale.

Councillor John Ross Scott, PEPA co-founder and committee member, said: “I am delighted to say that we have been successful in getting funding from Sustrans and Hitrans and are at the stage where we can employ a design team to develop the ideas that the community group came up with. This is further evidence of Sustrans and Hitrans continuing support for Orkney.”

Following a successful tender process, a design team led by award winning landscape architects HarrisonStevens and supported by Etive Engineering and Thomson Gray have been appointed by the council to carry out detailed design work.

PEPA Chair Lorraine Craigie said: “We, as a group are looking forward to working with the designers in the next step to improving the Papdale Park, which is still our committee’s aim. Due to Covid19 we have been unable to fundraise locally this year and this external funding is appreciated by us in the development of the area, making it suitable for use by people of all ages and abilities”

The design team are focusing on developing a community space with improved accessibility for people of all ages and abilities, which will include natural play features and a path around the park designed to the standards of Sustrans ‘Places for Everyone’ Programme.

They will also be uncovering the Papdale burn within the park and put in place improved surface water management to prevent any potential future flooding of properties in the area.

There will also be a space which will be left for a formal play area, that in the future and subject to funding PEPA will install.

Councillor Scott added: “We hope the park can be used and enjoyed by all. We think it will improve the area around Papdale and benefit the local community.”

This work will be carried out over the coming months and the design team will continue to engage with the local community throughout. Engagement will start online, with a view to progressing to in-person events when safe to do so.