Swansea Council is set to make a massive investment in improving the city's play parks.
Council members will be asked to approve the plans at a cabinet meeting on Thursday, September 17, and the money will be in addition to the current community budgets available to Swansea 's 72 city councillors.
People are able to contact their local councillors to make the case that their local park should be in line for the cash. Councillors are able to then apply for up to £30,000 per year from the pot to use on refurbishing or developing play facilities in their ward.
The funds can be used on parks on council-owned land or an a space that has been transferred to a community group to look after.
Up to 80% of the total costs of a scheme can be paid for with funds from the dedicated pot, with the balance coming from other sources such as grants, revenue community budget allocation or community donations.
Councillor Robert Francis Davies, Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said: "Swansea has some of the very best parks and outdoor play areas anywhere in the country and people have used our parks and open spaces in greater numbers than ever before during the Covid crisis.
"This has helped people's mental health and well-being during a very difficult time and this significant new investment will ensure that all our communities in Swansea can benefit from better park and play facilities."
Councillors will be given an overview of the current play facilities in their ward when making a decision whether to apply for the new money.
It comes in addition to £1 million that was made available to councillors earlier this year for schemes which their own ward budget would not normally cover.
The new investment will be made available to all councillors in addition to their community budgets.
Councillor Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Business Improvement and Performance, said: "The project encourages councillors to work together to access the fund and, if they want, they'll also be able to top-up schemes from their own ward member funds.
"Members often receive requests to find ways to help provide or improve play facilities. Thanks to this £1m fund it will be possible to invest more in the kind of priorities local people want to see because they'll make a difference in their neighbourhoods.
"Councillors will still have access to their own budgets which they can use to either supplement projects supported by the new fund or respond to requests for other schemes."
Councillor Robert Francis Davies added: "I'm looking forward to seeking the approval of my cabinet colleagues for this exciting new initiative."
