September 29, 2023
Some fun and socially active days ahead for the people of Grangemouth!
Originally gifted to the community by the Earl of Zetland in 1882, Zetland park which bears his name, has been a central point for townspeople for the last 140 years. It has been the backdrop for Children’s Day celebrations, sporting events, fun fairs and a place to enjoy leisure time down through the decades.
Over the year though, the park needed some transformation and changes to be made so as to encourage the kids to actively participate in community sports and for the neighbourhood to meet – to bring alive the spirit of the community once again!
The new heritage-themed play park is designed for users of all ages and abilities, including a wheelchair swing, inclusive roundabout, accessible boat, and sensory garden.
Thanks to the transformation that has taken place, the people of Grangemouth in Falkirk, Scotland can now enjoy an exhilarating biking experience even after nightfall. And with the help of LED lighting from Signify, the fun can continue into the evening, even on dark winter nights.
Zetland Park pump track offers beginner, intermediate and expert loops to cater for all ages and abilities. Pump tracks are intense circuits of bumps, jumps and turns. Riders use shifts in their body weight to propel their bikes forward instead of pedaling or pushing. The result is a thrilling, gravity-defying experience that brings people together to be active in the open air. And the track is not just for bikes – it’s also great fun for scooters, skateboards, rollerblades, and other wheel sports. The new heritage-themed play park is designed for users of all ages and abilities, including a wheelchair swing, inclusive roundabout, accessible boat and sensory garden.
When investing in the pump track, Falkirk Council wanted to ensure that the facility could be used all year round, even on dark winter evenings. With the help of Michelle McLaughlin, Key Account Manager, Signify UKI, they selected 16 LumiStreet gen2 streetlights to cover the pump track area. These LED lights offer an energy-efficient and economical alternative to conventional lights, with a long lifespan and easy maintenance. The lights at Zetland Park pump track switch on at dusk and off at 9pm, encouraging the use of the park during the evening without worrying about safety. The new pump track sits alongside the much-loved cycle route area for younger children.
Scott Brown
Lighting Engineer at Falkirk Council
The construction of the £100k pump track was completed in May 2023 and is just one part of a regeneration project that has spanned three years. Completed in 2023, the regeneration project includes new and updated features to promote outdoor activities and celebrate the town’s proud heritage. An inclusive playground creates a safe place to play for children of all abilities. A new event space offers a stage for performances and events. And the park’s war memorial and historic cast-iron fountain have been given a new lease of life for future generations. In June 2023, the project’s success was recognized when it received the prestigious title of Overall Winner in the Royal Town Planning Institute Scotland Awards.
The pump track and wider Zetland Park regeneration project came about through exceptional collaboration between community and local authority groups.. With a focus on rejuvenating the pride of the Portonian community, the Zetland Park Project surpassed its original proposals and successfully delivered a £2.23 million park regeneration initiative. The project brought together a collaborative alliance of partners, including Falkirk Council and community groups, most notably Friends of Zetland Park, Scotland Loves Local and Sportscotland and funders to transform the park into a vibrant and thriving space. The project received a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund of £1.12 million.
None of this has happened overnight but it has been achieved by talking to the community and ensuring that the improvements made were what they wanted to see and more importantly, what they would make use of during their leisure time.
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