A GRANT has pushed a community project to introduce a new play park for children in a Radnorshire village has passed the £7,000 mark.

Campaigners have been desperately trying to rejuvenate the play park in Llanyre, near Llandrindod Wells, and started the Llanyre Play Park Rejuvenation go fund me page in August of this year. The ambitious aim is to try and raise £30,000 and organisers are now planning to close the fundraising page and collect the money and put it safe until they are ready to use it.

The group were successful with a grant of £750 last week so their total has now surpassed £7,000.

Hollie Smith and Jenna Smith are at the heart of the fundraising efforts. And although they admit the £30,000 target is an ambitious one, and the cancellation of numerous events due to Covid has been a hindrance, they are hopeful the new year and better weather will bring renewed opportunity.

“Although Covid-19 hasn’t made fundraising easy, the Llanyre Play Park Rejuvenation Appeal has been continuing and we have surpassed £7,000 with more proceeds arriving soon,” said Hollie.

“We have an ambitious target of £30,000, but good quality play equipment that will last does not come cheap. We hope to do a phased installation so that the community can enjoy some new equipment sooner rather than later. We’re busy investigating different types of inclusive equipment that is out there.

“We’re extremely grateful to Nisa and the Cooperative for some grant assistance and to Llanyre Sports Committee for a very generous donation. We are also busy applying for further grants.

“During the last few months we’ve held various fundraising competitions, as well as a community greetings card.

“We are also extremely grateful to Howey Young Farmers Club who have chosen our appeal as the recipient of half of their Christmas fundraising efforts. They have done an amazing job with the Christmas display spectacular in Howey, it’s well worth a look.”

Hollie says the group are desperate to revamp this wonderful village space, not only for local children to be able to play and enjoy the outdoors, but to make it a place where, once again, childhood memories and friendships can begin and grow.

For six years there has been no funding for Llanyre play park and the equipment is being taken away because it is no longer deemed safe, with no plans to replace it.

The group’s next step in the new year is to contact play park companies to provide a quote for one or two items they have enough money for at the moment.

“The park has proved an important community resource during the pandemic,” added Hollie.

“Outdoor play is so important for children and communities and that is why, even though our target will be hard to achieve, we have utter passion and determination to reach it. We have an outdoor group called ‘Park Pals’ that meet monthly in the park and they are in the process of developing a wildflower bulb garden there.

“We’re hoping for a return to some normality in 2021 that will enable us to ramp up our fundraising. We have a concert, a marquee event and lots of other activities planned which the community can enjoy while helping us raise money.

“We are extremely grateful for the generosity and support shown so far.”