May 21 2025

Dundee is set to receive a fully accessible adventure playground, as part of a £1.5m refurbishment of a charity supporting children and young people with disabilities and additional needs.

The Yard is teaming up with Timberplay to create an outdoor play space as part of a broader refurbishment of The Yard’s service at Drumlanrig Place, Mid Cragie. These works include the replacement of the roof and creation of a changing places room, sensory room, larger play spaces, office and meeting spaces and a large kitchen and dining space, all of which will help it to expand its services upon reopening in August.

The inclusive play space design accommodates children with the most complex physical disabilities, encouraging water and sand play, climbing and use of a wheelchair carousel and bike tracks. The 800-square-foot space will encourage social interaction and imaginative play and is designed to support events and flexible, open-ended activities.

Mark Grimshaw, associate director at Timberplay, commented: “Our values align closely with The Yard’s mission, and with those of our long-term partner, Richter Spielgeräte, who believe that children need nature and the freedom to explore risk through play. Indeed, their founder, Hilde Richter, spent years studying how children grow and learn through these experiences.  The Yard shares this belief, with a strong focus on inclusive, landscape-led play that welcomes all children."

Funded by a grant of £100,000 from NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation, the renovation team is led by Paul Stephen, partner at James F Stephen Architects and Douglas Smith, partner at Hardies. The lead contractor is Andrew Shepherd Construction.

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