How a small Scottish play park won global recognition

A small Scottish play park has been globally recognised as an example of how to create urban public spaces for children.

The Catherine Street site in Dumfries is included in a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) highlighting good practice around the world.

Other places cited include Medellin in Colombia, Cairo in Egypt and Sao Paolo in Brazil.

The people behind the inclusive park in southern Scotland said they were delighted to find a place alongside such a worldwide selection of locations.

The report featuring the park was jointly published by the WHO, Unicef and UN-Habitat.

It highlights "exemplary initiatives" that advance children's rights to "safe, inclusive and accessible public spaces".

The Dumfries park is included on its pages alongside projects in Thailand, Lebanon and South Africa.

Its story started nearly a decade ago when families of children with disabilities needed accessible areas where they could play alongside their siblings and friends.

That saw the Catherine Street site renovated to include a new circular pathway, turfed grass areas, flower beds, accessible seating and sensory play opportunities.

A wheelchair swing and a wheelchair-accessible roundabout were also added in an attempt to create a "community centre without walls".

Along the way the project has been supported by a number of volunteers, partners and external funders.

Dumfries and Galloway Council also approved a community asset transfer in 2019, which paved the way to realise its "inclusive community vision".

The report recognised the park for its strong community engagement, sensory‑rich play and accessibility.

Now its model for "small‑scale, high‑impact transformation" could be replicated across the world.

Dr Andrzej Zieleniec is chairman of Include Us, which runs the park. He said the recognition was very welcome.

"I think it is amazing that a wee park in Dumfries has come to the attention and been recognised in such a prestigious report," he said.

"Being featured in this report positions Catherine Street Inclusive Park as a significant contribution to global thinking on inclusive urban design.

"It demonstrates how local, community‑driven initiatives can inform international policy and practice."

Development manager, Lisa Callander-Bone, said they were "honoured" to feature in the report.

"It demonstrates that when communities come together with purpose and imagination, we can create places that change lives, not just here in Dumfries, but as part of a wider global story about inclusion, equity and children's rights," she said.

"This accolade is for all who have supported our inclusion vision."