Parks and open spaces throughout Glasgow are undergoing significant improvements thanks to an innovative £3 million fund, where decisions on how the money is spent are guided entirely by the city's communities.

The Parks and Open Spaces Fund, created from council budgets set in 2022 and 2023, has identified almost 350 projects aimed at renewing and enhancing various aspects of green spaces, including play areas, paths, ponds, and planting places. Over 200 schemes across all 23 council wards have already been completed, with a further 142 projects now in the pipeline.

Community input has been central to the fund's implementation. Ideas for developing local green spaces were proposed through Glasgow's 23 Area Partnerships, which comprise councillors, community councils, and other local representatives. These partnerships worked closely with the council's Parks team to refine proposals and turn them into viable projects deliverable on the ground. This participatory budget process is a new approach for the council, and its implementation with the Parks and Open Spaces Fund will help inform how communities are involved in future spending decisions.

Councillor Laura Doherty, City Convener for Neighbourhood Services and Assets, hailed the success of the fund, describing it as beneficial for both Glasgow's environment and local democracy.

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"Whether it has been installing a new path, planting bulbs and wild flowers, clearing a pond of silt or installing new play equipment, the range of projects supported by the Parks and Open Spaces Fund has been remarkable," said Councillor Doherty. "Every ward in Glasgow has already benefited from the investment being made through the fund and there are many, many projects still to come. We will eventually see hundreds of environmental improvements to spaces all across the city thanks to this ground breaking fund."

She added that the community involvement had been "a huge plus," stating, "The participatory budget process has taken time, but we know for sure that each and every project that has been completed or will be getting underway has community backing. Communities know their local areas best of all and we can be confident these projects will be well received by those best placed to enjoy them the most."

Collectively, the work completed through the fund supports the council's wider objectives, including boosting biodiversity, strengthening climate change resilience, encouraging active travel, and improving accessibility to the city's parks. Projects range in scale from £300 for bulb and wildflower planting on smaller plots up to larger landscaping initiatives.

Examples of projects supported by the fund include:

• King's Park: £7,000 to create swales to help address resident concerns over surface water.

• Leverndale play area: £13,000 contribution to repair and replace play equipment.

• Festival Park: £26,750 for pond improvements, landscaping, new benches, and accessible picnic tables.

• Tobago St: £40,044 for play area improvements, including the installation of a new pirate ship.

• Elderslie St: £21,384 on new planters, seating, a sensory garden, and planting 10 fruit trees.

• Knightswood Park: £41,000 on a new entrance, new footway, and upgraded path.

• Clyde Walkway at Ellerslie Path: £18,400 for planting on a 220m embankment.

• Maryhill Old Parish Churchyard: £8,600 on renovations to support public access.

• Castlemilk Park: £15,000 for desilting works to improve the park pond.

Full details of all projects completed and under development through the fund are available in a paper presented to the Environment and Liveable Neighbourhoods Policy Development Committee.