HRH The Princess Royal unveils new sports facilities for Portsoy
Tuesday 9 November 2004
HRH The Princess Royal will unveil a plaque at The Recreation Park, Portsoy on Thursday 11 November, as part of celebrations to mark the official opening of the brand new multi-sport and changing facilities at the grounds.
The Portsoy Park Project, supported by an award of £163,137 from sportscotland’s Lottery funded Sports Facilities Programme, has provided the local community with a much needed floodlit, all-weather multi-court with hockey, tennis, volleyball and basketball facilities.
“The local community should also be praised for their various fundraising efforts, which have raised in excess of £60,000.
The dilapidated changing pavilion that stood at the ground for over 50 years has been demolished and replaced with a new pavilion which, as well as providing a fitness room containing state-of-the-art gym equipment, also houses much needed changing facilities for all who use the park’s facilities, which also include, a junior football pitch, two full size grass pitches and a children’s play area.
Portsoy and District Community Association formed back in February 2000 to campaign for a purpose built sports facility in the area. They hope that the new facilities and the wide range of sporting activities the park now provides will encourage more people to take part in physical activity, more often, establishing the park as a sporting hub for the local community.
Michael Kelbie, Secretary, Portsoy & District Community Association said: “This new facility, which will promote sport, leisure, fitness and health will be a fantastic new asset to the local community. We are very fortunate to have received a substantial award from sportscotland, which allowed us to realise the aims which we set out to achieve four years ago. We not only appreciate the financial backing, but also the continuous support and encouragement we have received from sportscotland throughout the project.
“The local community should also be praised for their various fundraising efforts, which have raised in excess of £60,000.
“The icing on the cake is the attendance of HRH The Princess Royal who has very kindly offered to open the facility.”
Alastair Dempster, Chairman, sportscotland added: “sportscotland is delighted to have supported this fantastic project with an award of £163,137 from the Lottery funded Sports Facilities Programme, which has helped to widen sporting opportunities for so many in Portsoy and the surrounding areas.
“We are committed to providing quality, accessible facilities to people of all ages and abilities across Scotland to ensure that more people have the opportunity to take part in physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle, which, in the long term, will help to achieve our vision of creating a fitter, more active nation.”
- The official opening of the new facilities will take place at The Recreation Park, Seafield Terrace, Portsoy, Banff, Aberdeenshire, AB45 2QB on Thursday 11 November at 3pm.
- Entry is strictly by invitation only.