Open spaces
Public green spaces provide a range of benefits for communities, the environment and the local economy. They provide opportunities for recreation, sport, play and social interactions and support wellbeing through encouraging healthy lifestyles. They also contribute to a sustainable natural environment by providing vital habitats for wildlife and visually enhance the urban environment.
The Council maintains a total of just over 973 hectares of urban open space. We have 458 hectares of public parks and gardens, including nine regional sites for sport and outdoor recreation.
On this page you will find information on:
- We have nine regional parks
- We also have three local nature reserves (LNRs)
- Open Space Strategy
- Play Areas
- Partnership projects and Funding
We have nine regional parks:
- King George V Park, Bearsden
- Colquhoun Park, Bearsden
- Thorn Park, Bearsden
- Bishopbriggs Public Park, Bishopbriggs
- Huntershill Playing Fields, Bishopbriggs
- High Park, Lennoxtown
- Luggie Park, Kirkintilloch
- Merkland Sports Pitches, Kirkintilloch
- Lennox Park, Milngavie
We also have three local nature reserves (LNRs):
- Merkland Local Nature Reserve
- Lenzie Moss Local Nature Reserve
- Kilmardinny Loch Local Nature Reserve
These nature reserves provide a haven for wildlife and a resource for the local community.
You can view the Regional Parks and LNRs on the Regional Parks Map
Included within our parks and open spaces are 43 sports pitches and two athletic tracks. Visit East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust for more information.
We also maintain all the sports areas within the nine secondary and 34 primary school grounds. During the playing season and school terms, all sports pitches and athletics tracks are prepared and marked out to ensure they are ready for fixtures and curriculum needs.
Open Space Strategy
The Council’s Open Space Strategy 2015 – 2020 attached within the documents section was approved in January 2015 following a period of public consultation.
All councils are required to prepare an Open Space Audit followed by an Open Space Strategy. The Strategy sets the framework for current and future open space provision in the area and seeks to increase the quantity and quality of this resource.
The Open Space Strategy aims to detail the plans through partnership working that will ensure that open spaces are inclusive, accessible and 'fit for purpose'. The opportunities for improvements to open spaces are set out by settlement area within the strategy.
We also have an Interactive Map of our Open Space Audit.
In September 2017, a Progress Report was produced to evaluate the opportunities delivered during the first two years of the Strategy.
Play Areas
There are 67 play areas within parks and green spaces in East Dunbartonshire. We regularly inspect our outdoor play areas, and repair or remove any damaged items found within them. The Council has set aside just over £1.5 million to upgrade play parks and open spaces during the 10 year period 2015/16 - 2024/25.
| In recent years, upgrades have been carried out in the following areas: |
|---|
| 2013/14 |
|
| 2014/15 |
|
| 2015/16 |
|
| 2016/17 |
|
| 2017/2018 |
|
Partnership projects and Funding
The Council also works with local groups to develop community play facilities or to upgrade existing play areas to meet changing community needs and has successfully helped a number of groups to secure funding for this.
Any communities or groups who are interested in becoming involved in developing their parks or play facilities should contact the Streetscene Team on 0300 123 4510 or by email to customerservices@eastdunbarton.gov.uk.