Limerigg Park revamp brings new life to ex-mining community
A determined community group has successfully transformed their local park into a vibrant play space, bringing new life to this former mining village in Falkirk.
Limerigg Action Group, working in partnership with Falkirk Council, has overseen an ambitious improvement project that has created an innovative and inclusive play area that the village's population of approximately 300 residents will enjoy for years to come.
A £40,000 grant from the EDF Burnhead Moss Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund (Limerigg & Slamannan), administered by Foundation Scotland, helped unlock a £40,000 contribution from Falkirk Council to cover the £80,000 cost of buying and installing all the new equipment and play areas. It also helped encourage Falkirk Council to make a significant further investment by purchasing a small parcel of land adjacent to the existing site to improve the recreational space available to the community.
The new play area features an impressive range of equipment including an inclusive zip line, group swings, climbing structures, and sensory play panels. The design was developed through extensive community consultation, and emphasises social interaction and collaborative play.
As one local parent commented on social media:
"The new park looks amazing! It's brilliant to see so many children playing together and enjoying the new equipment. This is exactly what our community needed."
The transformation has been particularly significant for Limerigg, which has faced socio-economic challenges following the decline of local mining activities. The park itself had gradually fallen into disrepair over more than a decade, and kids had largely stopped using it. Resident volunteers formed Limerigg Action Group in 2016 to kickstart this and other projects to improve the local area.
Key to the project's success was the support of a dedicated Community Development Worker, a role co-designed by local residents, CVS Falkirk, and Foundation Scotland, and funded by the EDF Burnhead Wind Farm Community Fund. This innovative use of wind farm community benefit funding was initially suggested by Foundation Scotland, and was developed further in discussion with local residents. The role has been hosted by CVS Falkirk, the area’s Third Sector Interface responsible for promoting and developing community groups and local charities. The Community Development Worker has helped Limerigg Action Group volunteers seek funding, engage with Falkirk Council staff, gather resident views and generally maintain momentum throughout.
Karen Henderson from Limerigg Action Group has spearheaded the park redevelopment initiative:
"Limerigg Action Group is very grateful to CVS Falkirk, Falkirk Council and Foundation Scotland for their support through what turned out to be a complicated and bumpy path to achieve the play park that the young people of Limerigg deserve. We hope they will enjoy using it for many years."
The play equipment's specifications reflect a strong commitment to sustainability, with 93% of production waste being recycled and 75% of products containing recycled materials.
The robust construction, featuring vandal-resistant materials and lifetime warranties on key components, will ensure the facility remains in good shape.
Although the play park installation is now complete, contractors discovered an old mineshaft beneath part of the existing multi-use games area, a reminder of the area's industrial heritage. With parts of the MUGA now fenced off for safety reasons, plans for ‘Phase 2’ improvements to overcome this challenge are already emerging, harnessing the goodwill built up between residents and Council staff members.
The success of this initiative demonstrates the vital role of community-led development, supported by strategic partnerships and timely funding interventions, in delivering meaningful change within communities outside of Scotland’s main towns and cities. Through the combined efforts of the Limerigg Action Group, the committed Community Development Worker, Falkirk Council and wind farm community benefit funds provided by EDF Renewables, which owns the Burnhead Moss Wind Farm, this former mining community now has a modern, inclusive play space that will benefit generations to come.