Lochore Meadows Country Park is to benefit from more than £1 million worth of investment.
The park, which attracts 600,000 visitors each year, has been handed to Fife Coast and Countryside Trust (FCCT) by Fife Council in a bid to generate additional income.
As part of the pilot project, the local authority has provided FCCT with £1 million to upgrade or redevelop the visitor centre buildings and additional funding of £120,000per year to run the visitor attraction.
Under the new ownership programme, FCCT will manage the park’s 13 staff and has employed a new park manager to help drive forward operations.
Ian Laing, who was formerly the region’s wildlife crime officer, will play a pivotal role in the running of the park.
FCCT have already begun to make some improvements on the ground including painting the foyer of the park centre and installing a digital information point.
Other projects due to take place over the next 12 months include upgrading the walking route linking Kelty to the park and work to conserve the remains of Lochore Castle.
The council’s executive spokesperson for community health and wellbeing, Councillor Gavin Yates said: “The extra annual investment from Fife Council that was announced earlier this year will contribute towards making the community’s long-standing ambitions for the park a reality.
“The trust have experience in managing some of Fife’s best outdoor assets, including the Fife Coastal Path, and I welcome this move that will see them oversee the development of Lochore Meadows Country Park.”
Councillor Willie Clarke, chairman of the Cowdenbeath area committee, said: “I look forward to seeing the work of the FCCT in action to build on the good work already done by the park’s committed staff that have served it over the years.”
FCCT chief executive Amanda Mcfarlane said: “We are very excited to be managing Lochore Meadows which is a fantastic facility with great potential.”