Heritage lottery funding will give green light to major improvements to Rouken Glen Park

Rouken Glen Park has been awarded over £2 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the regeneration and conservation of the park.

Article Source: East Renfrewshire Council
Last Updated: 2 July 2012 9:15

The £2.15m award will be augmented by a £1million contribution from East Renfrewshire Council who submitted the application to the fund.

The money will be used fund major capital spend projects from late 2012 until spring 2016.

Beyond this ERC has committed to a further five years additional management and maintenance costs to support the HLF project.

This award follows the announcement in December 2011 that the park had received a ‘first round’ pass from the Heritage lottery Fund.

The Rouken Glen Heritage Lottery Fund Parks for People project aims to improve and restore many of the park’s popular attractions.

It will deliver a range of activities in the park that will extend peoples’ knowledge of the park’s heritage through volunteering and learning opportunities.

A number of specific regeneration projects have already been identified and developed, such as:

Improvements to the pavilion to create a park hub to host exhibitions and events; ecological enhancement of the boating pond and restoration of the Glen path comprising 600m of pathway and two bridges.

Other projects will include further access improvements, new signage, new lighting, power to the events area to host more and better events, restoration of the walled garden and a brand new play area.

Some of the funding will be spent on activities such as geology, history and archaeology projects and environmental projects.

The volunteer programme will be expanded and extended to include other groups and organisations including schools.

A new project officer and new ranger will be recruited to take forward the activities programme for the park. Their duties will include developing information and publicity for the public and to work with a range of people and groups to encourage involvement in the park.

The Friends of Rouken Glen have worked in partnership with ERC to develop the regeneration project and will continue to work closely with the parks service on the future planning and management of the park.

Environment convener Councillor Vincent Waters said: “This is absolutely fabulous news for East Renfrewshire Council. This award will now allow us to forge ahead with the plans we have developed to improve the park and its facilities.

“Since the park opened in 1906 people of all nationalities have found peace and tranquillity walking along its paths admiring its beautifully landscaped gardens, waterfall and glen.

“And things about the park that many people don’t know about such as its exceptional geology, industrial archaeology and cultural history will now be able to be fully explored and publicised.”

“Rouken Glen Park is a major tourist attraction in East Renfrewshire and a jewel in our crown and thousands flock to events such as the annual running festival, Tartan Day and our family fun day.

“We are now in the fortunate position to be able to move forward with the proposals that have been developed and to enhance the events programme and improve promotion and marketing.”