New pavillion opens at Kingholm Park with sportscotland funding
Wednesday 5 July 2006
Dumfries YMCA and St Michael’s Cricket Club will be celebrating with the official opening of the new MacLeod Pavilion at Kingholm Playing Fields this Sunday 9 July by Gretna FC’s Assistant Coach David Irons.
Supported by an award of £174,018 from sportscotland’s Lottery funded Sports Facilities programme, the YMCA and St. Michael’s Cricket Club will benefit from a new four-team changing pavilion with viewing gallery and activity/meeting room. The pavilion will provide a much-needed changing facility which will be shared between the two clubs, and will allow both to expand their existing junior programmes for local children.
The pavilion will also address the shortage of community sports facilities in the area and enable the development of a wider range of activities in the future such as a jogging club, dance and aerobics sessions and also activities during the school holidays. It is hoped that the new pavilion will allow the YMCA and Cricket Club to host a number of sports fixtures promoting their work to a wider audience.
Dumfries YMCA has been in existence since 1876 and the MacLeod Pavilion is named after Angus MacLeod a retired local councillor in Dumfries and a major supporter of the Dumfries YMCA. St Michael’s Cricket Club was formed in 1929 and the pavilion replaces the famous ‘Green Shed’.
In partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Council, the YMCA and St Michael’s Cricket Club plan to develop a structured sports activity programme working with various sports specific development officers in the region. They also plan to develop a coach education programme which
will be open to members of the local community and will address life long learning and skills issues within the local community.
“We are thrilled with this terrific facility. It will be an ideal base for the development of cricket and football,” said Tom Turner, Chair of Dumfries YMCA. “We are impressed by the partnerships that have achieved this and for the contribution of so many. It has cost £300,000 in cash, but the donations and in-kind contributions mean it really cost far more than this. Our thanks to everyone, without your help we would not have been able to do it.”
Larry Brockwell, Chair of St Michael’s Cricket Club and the MacLeod Pavilion Management Committee said: “The two clubs have worked closely to bring this project to fruition and we hope that the community will use it, not only for sport, but also other activities. Our thanks to all the individuals, businesses and funders for their support, and in particular to Stuart Callander and Kim Bellwood who handled the day to day decisions relating to its construction.”
Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair of sportscotland said: “sportscotland is delighted to have supported this fantastic project with an award of £174,018 from sportscotland’s Lottery funded Sports Facilities programme, helping widen the sporting opportunities for the young people of Dumfries and introducing them to the benefits and enjoyment sport can provide.
“Good facilities and resources must be available and accessible to bring people into sports participation and encourage those who already participate to do so more often and this project is another example of sportscotland’s commitment to providing communities across Scotland with quality, accessible facilities.”
- Other funders of this project have included: Dumfries & Galloway Council, the Lendal Environmental Trust, The Holywood Trust and an anonymous donation.