A £945,000 project to upgrade paths around Auchterarder has been officially opened.
Dozens of people gathered at Jubilee Park in the town to celebrate the Provost Walk upgrade.
Members of the community were joined by the various funders, elected representatives and Perth and Kinross Council staff to witness the ribbon cutting.
The project has made the path, which stretches from Coalbore Well westwards to the A824, suitable for walkers, cyclists and wheelchairs. The final section, costing £44,000, was recently completed.
Bid Strachan, Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust’s communities officer, who managed the Provost Walk path upgrade project, said: “It was really heartwarming to see so many people at the official opening event of this, the third phase of path upgrade.
“We have worked with engineers TP&E and the local community paths group on the whole project since 2015 for the benefit of the community so to see them out in force, celebrating the occasion, has made it all so special.”
In total, the whole £945,000 Provost Walk project was delivered in three stages. Along the length of the newly upgraded route, works included the installation of solar lighting, benches, upgraded handrail and steps at Broadwood View.
Also installed were people and cyclist counters, extensive tree work and drainage, a new bridge, and more accessible sloped gradients up to the A824 on the western end and up to the public park from Coalbore Well.
A spokeswoman for the Auchterarder Core Paths Working Group said: “The Provost Walk was, only a few years ago, a narrow muddy, wet track enjoyed only by a few hard core dog walkers.
“Now it is a smooth wide multiuse path loved by many residents of Auchterarder whether fit and able runners, wheelchairs users/ pushchairs/prams, cyclists and drawing walkers from much further afield. The upgraded path offers a new pleasant route to visit the cemetery or to reach the golf course or station.”
The scouts and the Community School of Auchterarder have been involved in litterpicking, removal of Himalyan Balsalm, seed sowing of wild flowers on a bare bank, and planting wild flowers and trees.
The Auchterarder Core Paths Working Group meets on the first Wednesday of the month, 10am to 1pm.
