Papdale Park Works Continue

Work on an improved community space in Papdale is continuing – with the first phase of the project due to be completed by the end of September.

The community park, which is for all ages and abilities, will feature a deculverted burn, a network of paths and cycle ways, native shrubs and trees, and a wildflower meadow.

A new road crossing will link the park to Kirkwall Grammar School and a plaza will be created for community use.

Once this is complete, phase two will kick in with the local community group Papdale East Play Association (PEPA) reinstating the play area.

Following completion of the main earth-moving works, the road crossing, plaza, planting and lighting columns, the contractors are now moving onto some of the finer details that will be enjoyed by visitors – installation of benches and bridges, the formation of banking for the future amphitheatre and the laying of final paving surfaces along the main paths.

Once the manhole chamber by Otterswick Crescent is completed, the burn channel will have water flowing through it - and decks will be installed that will sit at each end of the channel allowing visitors to sit and enjoy the space.

The informal paths running through the northern half of the park will also be paved over the summer – this will allow easier, drier access to the open grass areas, and the Hampshire Woodland. 

The last path to be paved will be the main cycle route, to avoid damage by machinery needed for other building works, which are using the path as access.

The planting implemented earlier in the season is now in leaf and growing and a wildflower meadow will follow as the seedlings establish over the coming seasons.  The meadow will allow an improved habitat for the Yellow Bumblebee - similarly, the Orkney Vole should be able to increase its range into the park, with the new habitats being formed.

The £670,000 cost of the phase one has been funded by Orkney Islands Council, Sustrans’ Places for Everyone fund, and NatureScot’s Biodiversity Challenge Fund, with additional funding coming from a Cycling, Walking and Safer Routes grant allocation and the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund.

The project has also been supported by the Orkney Woodland Project and The Woodland Trust and the work is being carried out by Andrew Sinclair Contractors.

The proposed development of the area originated from the Your Kirkwall Place Plan engagements, during 2018 through which PEPA brought forward ideas to improve the play park to complement the wider community aspirations. It was also born out of the Council’s Play Area Strategy, which identifies Papdale East as an area where opportunities for play were in need of improvement.

Garry Burton is the Council’s Leisure and Culture Service Manager. He said: “Thanks to a mammoth team effort across the contractors and a number of other organisations, this fantastic space in the heart of Kirkwall is really starting to come together

“As is expected with any project of this size and complexity there have been some unavoidable delays to its progress, whilst we ironed out some engineering issues.  That said, the team is very pleased to confirm that the park will be completed by the end of September and look forward to seeing local people enjoying the new space in due course.”