10k awarded to Our Community for feasibility study for Craigrownie Park
Our Community has been awarded GBP 10k by CLLD (Community-led Local Development funding) for a feasibility study to develop Craigrownie Park as a community hub.
Source: Mairi Benton, Our Community Sports Group
This feasibility study is the first step towards addressing a lack of quality sports provision, limited facilities for young people, community asset decline and lack of a village heart - all of which were identified by 3 years of extensive public consultation in Cove & Kilcreggan villages, and are part of our Local Place Plan, which has already been issued to the Argyll & Bute Council.
More specifically, the feasibility study will address:
lack of access to court/ track based sports facilities
possibility of providing flexible spaces to address community needs such as green space, open air access, childcare
ways to enhance existing, outdated facilities and create new facilities such as a pump track, MUGA, skate park and public toilets
the potential to provide employment and training opportunities such as an admin worker, caretaker, cleaner, grounds person, childcare and youth worker posts
This work will be delivered in partnership between the Our Community, Argyll & Bute Council, the Youth Cafe, Cove & Kilcreggan Bowling Club and Our Community Garden.
About Craigrownie Gardens:
Craigrownie is a large grassed area owned by the A&B Council, with a bowling club, youth cafe, playpark, two football goals and community garden. It is situated close to the area of densest population in Kilcreggan & Cove villages, which includes the primary school and local park. The youth cafe is well used by local youth but housed in an old building no longer fit for purpose. The tennis courts are in disrepair. The skate park was well used but is now condemned. The bowls lawn & clubhouse are well attended but in need of development. The football pitch is on a steep slope making it unusable for football. The community garden was created in 2025, and is fast becoming favoured by many.
Source: Martin Guthrie, Cove & Kilcreggan Bowling Club
Developing Craigrownie Gardens as a community hub will provide much needed facilities to address gaps in the current provision enabling:
improvement of facilities for the local clubs to help them improve their revenue streams to secure their long term future, become self-sufficient and allow investment in their facilities in future years
improvement in the health & wellbeing of our community
bring under-used green space into active use
reduce car journeys to other sports & leisure facilities
provide opportunities for volunteering, training & employment
improve community cohesion by providing a focused space for community sports, events & a hub for community groups
A professional feasibility study is an essential component to support future applications for capital funding to carry out upgrades to the Craigrownie Gardens site and facilities for the clubs and activities situated there.
Source: Ivan Bertram, Our Community Garden