307 APRIL 2020 - Gryffe Advertizer

April 2020
cala homes: helicopter park
CALA Homes (West) has teamed up with Houston Play Park
Improvement Group to help plans for a ‘Helicopter Park’ take off
in the village.
The group received £1,000 from the award-winning housebuilder
after it became aware of their exciting aim to improve village
youngsters’ play experience and deliver a transformed South
Mounds site next to the Compass Centre. The name ‘Helicopter
Park’ pays tribute to a piece of play equipment which was once
part of the site, leaving only a slide and swings.
Its members – made up of local parents – have ambitious plans
including the delivery of facilities for children who have impaired
mobility as well as multi-gym equipment for all ages. They plan
to heighten access to the South Street park with a new ramp,
install picnic benches, and introduce raised vegetable beds in a
community garden setting.
The group has set itself a summer 2021 target to deliver on the
plans which it hopes to fulfil through wide-ranging fundraising
initiatives and a JustGiving page. Details below.
The group was first inspired by a successful campaign to improve
Crosslee Swings Park which was completed in 2015 after an
£80,000 fundraising drive – and the Houston fundraisers are
hopeful of emulating that target.
They now plan to hold further events such as an afternoon tea,
an Easter Egg Hunt on April 12, and even want to publish a
cookbook, including a recipe from celebrity chef Tom Kitchin.
Group chair Sam Love said: “It’s really important to us that we
improve facilities here as there isn’t much for little ones. The park
is simply crying out for new equipment and so we set out on this
journey to do as much fundraising as possible while applying for
grants and charitable help.
“Donations are therefore vital and we’d like to thank CALA for
its £1,000 contribution which has represented a big step forward
in our fundraising ambitions. We’re now a lot closer to where we
want to be.”
Andrew Duncan, land director at CALA Homes, commented:
“Supporting fantastic initiatives like Helicopter Park is essential to
the communities in which we work and we look forward to further
building our relationship with the village.
“The group have been really welcoming and we’ve been
impressed by the depth of their ambition. They want to create a
wonderfully inclusive environment which will impact generations
to come. We now look forward to hearing how the park develops
and firmly believe the sky is the limit for Helicopter Park. www.
justgiving.com/crowdfunding/houstonplayparkgroup
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