A Scottish charity, The Yard, which supports disabled young people, is planning to take over and renovate the Linn Park adventure playground in Glasgow. The charity has secured £500,000 from the Scottish Government to establish an operation in the city and believes that the premises are suitable for its needs.
Currently, Glasgow Life, the council’s culture and leisure arm, has a lease for the council-owned playground until 2032. The Yard would sublease the facility until the end of Glasgow Life’s lease, with the council taking over landlord responsibilities from 2032. The charity would pay a concessionary rent of £1 per year throughout the term of the deal.
The Yard, which operates in Dundee, Edinburgh, and Kirkcaldy, helps disabled children and young people aged 0 to 25, offering opportunities for adventure play. Cllr Ruairi Kelly, SNP, the council’s convener for neighborhood assets and services, stated that the deal would safeguard the future of the playground and provide a valuable facility for disabled children and young people in the city.
According to a council report, the £500,000 secured from the Scottish Government must be spent by March 31. The report also mentioned that substantial renovations and upgrades are required before the property is suitable for use, and The Yard will carry out these renovations as a condition of the grant funding.
Officials are hopeful that the property can be handed over to The Yard by the end of the year, with plans to reopen the playground in April 2025. This initiative aims to provide a safe and inclusive space for disabled children and young people to play and have fun with their families in Glasgow. The Yard’s expertise in running similar playgrounds and access to funding will ensure the success of this venture and benefit the community.
