The 10-year Parks for the Future programme paves the way for work to start on delivering improvements at Palacerigg, Drumpellier and Strathclyde Country Parks.

The programme will create new opportunities for play, exercise and wildlife conservation offering benefits to residents through improved physical and mental health and wellbeing, opportunities for learning about local wildlife and heritage, and encouraging active travel. It was developed after consultation with communities and partners in 2019.

At Strathclyde Country Park, the priority from the consultation is to make the park a major visitor attraction and a hub for health and wellbeing for the whole area. The flagship proposals for the park are to create a lagoon area safe for paddling with a bridge crossing the loch, and a new outdoor centre with accommodation and events space.

The masterplan for Palacerigg Country Park, Cumbernauld builds on the park’s role as a community asset, focusing on play, outdoor activity and wildlife conservation. In the next two years, the priority will be to improve the core visitor facilities, extending the path network around the park and providing additional car parking. A new attraction will be created around play facilities for children of all ages, which will complement the existing play areas at the park. Work is expected to start in 2021/22

Drumpellier Country Park is being developed as a gateway to the Seven Lochs Wetland Park, a new regional park spanning the Glasgow and North Lanarkshire boundaries between Easterhouse, Coatbridge and Stepps. Improvements are being finalised to the Visitors Centre with new interpretation on the wildlife and heritage of the park, and future plans are in place for access improvements and habitat enhancement focussed on peatlands. 

Find out more