Lochee Park - free family fun day #dundeewestend

There's an Easter Family Fun Day tomorrow - Saturday 19th April - at Lochee Park from 12 noon to 5pm.

The free event will include live entertainment, funfair, street soccer, refreshments, Easter eggs, face painting, Scrap Antics, Poppy's Bubbles and much more.

More details are available at www.facebook.com/events/1171252881175904

Lochee Park - 1973 #dundeewestend

With thanks to SJ Bogue and Dundee Memories, children sledging at Lochee Park - December 1973 :

Getting things done - Lochee Park #dundeewestend

We recently received concerns about some of the play equipment at the Lochee Park playpark - for example, the yellow see saw was not working properly very squeaky.

We raised this with our local environment manager who responded helpfully as follows :

"Our playgrounds team have called into the playpark to inspect and they have carried out a repair to the yellow seesaw and this play equipment is now fully functionable.

With regard to the roundabout, we have discovered an issue with the roundabout bearings and these require replacement. Replacement parts have been ordered and once they arrive the needed repair will be carried out."

Community Gardens Open Day

Local community gardens Fruitbowls in Lochee Park, Ninewells Community Garden and Victoria Gardens are amongst the city-wide community gardens welcoming everyone this Saturday as part of Dundee’s Community Gardens Open Day and Wheelbarrow Trail.

More details in the poster and everyone welcome!

ScrapAntics at Lochee Park! #dundeewestend

 

Getting things done - Lochee Pavilion #dundeewestend

Fraser is pictured at the pavilion in Lochee Park.

The Lochee Family Fun group is running its Dundee West Youth Club every Tuesday evening at the pavilion but has pointed out to us that the pavilion badly needs paintwork, new tables/chairs, kitchen improvements and external lighting.

We have raised this with the City Council as the family fun group's activities deserve support and the pavilion must be an inviting space for local children in the darker nights.

Kidical family friendly bike ride today! #dundeewestend

There's another family-friendly fun bike ride on today - and the last Saturday of every month.

Meet-up at Lochee Park's playpark at 1pm - all welcome! 

Kidical mass bike ride next Saturday #dundeewestend

Fruitbowls Community Garden - Playday 2022 #dundeewestend

The playday takes place next Wednesday - 3rd August - more details are available at www.facebook.com/events/394492722779262 :

Free orienteering session on Sunday! #dundeewestend

There's a free orienteering session on Sunday - 20th March - at Lochee Park and Balgay Park.

Details below ...

Lochee Park wildflower project #dundeewestend

Residents will have read recently about projects to create wildflower meadows in various parks across the city.

One of these is to be at Lochee Park and I asked the City Council for clarification about what is proposed here.

The council's greenspace team leader has advised me as follows :

"At Lochee Park the area of biodiversity grassland will have yellow rattle seed sown into the existing grassland. 

This will help to reduce the vigour of the grass and encourage wildflowers to establish naturally. 

This project is currently being implemented as the Yellow Rattle needs several days of frost to germinate successfully."

Access improvements for Lochee Park #dundeewestend

The City Council's Neighbourhood Services Committee recently approved welcome access improvements for Lochee Park.

The Service Manager - Environment has updated me with details as follows :

"I can confirm that the intention is to improve the access for wheelchairs from inside the park so they can more easily move between the park area and the Fruit Bowl facility. 

Where the current service/ vehicle access gates are located, we plan is to improve the surface around the gated area by levelling the area and installing grass Crete tyles, which are heavy duty non slip rubber mats which allow grass to grow through. 

This improvement will allow wheelchairs to move more easily into the Fruit Bowl from the park and the access will continue to be used for service vehicles to drop off and uplift materials as required."

Getting things done - Lochee Park #dundeewestend

A number of residents have said it would be a great boon for Lochee Park to have a multi-use games area (MUGA). These are now provided in various locations in the city and would be of real benefit in Lochee Park.

I therefore took up the matter with environment management at the City Council and indeed raised it at the council's Neighbourhood Services Committee.

The Service Manager - Environment has updated me as follows :

"While in agreement that the addition of a MUGA would potentially be an asset to Lochee Park, we do not have capital monies available to fund such a project currently.

Funds are focused on health and safety, balanced with need and level of use throughout all wards. We will of course keep it on our radar to explore feasibility in the future."

I have responded asking that Lochee Park is considered in future capital programmes for a multi-use games area and will continue to pursue this.

Getting things done - Lochee Park - an update #dundeewestend

Residents recall my update in March giving the positive response I had received from the City Council's environment management team about installing further picnic tables at Lochee Park.

I was advised at the time that delivery was to be taking place soon so, last week, I sought an update on installation.

The Project Officer in the council's Neighbourhood Services team has now updated me as follows :

"I met with a colleague last week and agreed the positions for two picnic benches.

I have since instructed our chargehand to install concrete bases for the benches. We have the benches in stock at Caird Park.

Once installed, hopefully next week, the concrete will require at least a week to cure before drilling and bolting down the benches.

Therefore approx 2 to 3 weeks for the bench fitting."

Getting things done - Lochee Park #dundeewestend

Last summer, it was good to report the provision of a new picnic table in Lochee Park.

This has been well-used and, at the request of residents, I asked the City Council's environment management team some time ago if further picnic tables could be provided.

I am pleased to advise I had a positive response to this and recently asked for an update on timescales.

In the past week I received the following feedback :

"Picnic tables are ordered and should be coming next week. We will look to install as soon as we can."

Lochee Park update #dundeewestend

Residents will recall that, back in August, I was pleased to report that the council's environment manager for our area had advised that a new picnic table would be provided at Lochee Park and it was soon in place - see above.

Since then, many residents have pointed out it is very well-used and could more be provided.   

I contacted the environment manager about this and have had the following helpful response :

"There is another picnic table to be installed near the play park, along with a youth shelter which will be nearer to the exercise equipment.   These are being done as part of our winter programme of works."

Getting things done - Lochee Park #dundeewestend

I am grateful to the residents who highlighted to me at the weekend damage to one of the swings in the playpark at Lochee Park.

I have reported this to environment management at the City Council asking for a repair and a safety check at the other swings here too.

Lochee Park update #dundeewestend

I recently received a request from a constituent in relation to Lochee Park :

“I noticed a bunch of new benches and bins in Victoria Park, looks great and I am sure will be appreciated. I wonder if there are plans for some more seating in Lochee Park?”

So ... I am delighted to welcome the new picnic table and seating at Lochee Park although I have asked our local environment manager if it may be possible to have more provided.

He has responded as follows :

"The picnic table was provided as part of improvements that are being made to Lochee Park. There was only one picnic bench included in the design but if it proves popular and there is a need for more we can consider this later in the year."

Litter and rubbish concerns #dundeewestend

Over the weekend, I have had numerous concerns about a minority of people using our local parks in the lovely weather but leaving their rubbish behind them.

The photos below are just a few examples - from Lochee Park and Magdalen Green - and there were also examples on Balgay Hill.

I am grateful for the efforts of council environment staff over the weekend to clean this up and have reported concerns raised by residents.

Most people are sensible enough to use litter bins and tidy behind them and that's the message residents would like everyone to take on board.

Getting things done - Greater Balgay #dundeewestend

I have had numerous concerns recently about the frequency of grass cutting and maintenance in Balgay Park, Victoria Park and Lochee Park and also the need to attend to overgrown bushes at the Victoria Park boundary with Jedburgh Road.

I took this up with the council's Service Manager - Environment and he has now responded as follows :

"I can confirm that the grass at Victoria Park has now been cut. 

In terms of Lochee Park, to ensure the pitches are kept in a suitable standard for football we always endeavour to cut these weekly, the remainder of the park is cut on a fortnightly basis hence the grass is a bit longer in the non football areas cut rather than being of excessive length.

The hedge in Jedburgh Road is cut annually and is scheduled to commence at the start of next month."