The active role played by a former Angus Provost in bringing a skatepark to Carnoustie has been celebrated on its second anniversary.
The town’s £200,000 facility opened in May 2015 after a four-year campaign and fundraising drive, during which hopeful teenagers became adults themselves.
Former Carnoustie councillor and provost Helen Oswald, who lost a battle with cancer in October 2016, was instrumental in bridging the gap between local children and Angus Council.
Her help in developing the park, now a well-used community asset beside the town leisure centre, has been recognised with a plaque and scrapbook presentation to her husband Ed and daughter Linsey.
Members of the Carnoustie skatepark committee gathered to meet Mrs Oswald’s family and presented a small plaque placed on a bench at the park, as well as handing over a scrapbook of the campaign’s history.
Chairman Bob Bell said: “We were all devastated to hear of Helen’s passing late last year.
“Helen was a friend and supporter from the very outset of the campaign to get the skatepark built in the town.
“She actively worked with, and encouraged, the young lads involved with campaign from the moment she read of their idea on social media and she stayed with the campaign all the way through to its official opening, which was held two years ago this week.
“We wanted to make sure Helen’s place in the campaign was properly remembered and thought that a small plaque on one of the benches we provided was the ideal way to do this.
“We also wanted to give Helen’s family a scrapbook of the campaign so that her grandchildren can look at it one day and see how she helped develop an idea in to a reality.
“The scrapbook contains press cuttings, correspondence, official documents and photographs, all the way from the first idea to the opening day ceremony.”
The ambitious Carnoustie project was sparked by a petition from Kieran Bell and Andrew Patterson, who were looking for a place they could ride their BMX bikes following police complaints.
They gained support from Mrs Oswald and an official committee was soon formed.
The group received financial backing from sportscotland, Angus Council and several community groups including the gala committee and community council.
