Big-hearted locals team up to transform their neighbourhood

Published: 29 January 2020

Meet the community-minded team trying to make their neighbourhood a better place to live.

Tim and Sam Snell head up the Merrivale Park Association who are working closely with the City Council to improve their local play park.

Last year the Association installed new picnic benches in the park thanks to a substantial grant from the Council’s Grass Roots Fund. With the money they were also able to make improvements to the park.

Sam is the secretary of the group and her husband Tim is chairman. The Association is run by a committee of public spirited local residents.

Sam said: “We organise events for the community to raise money to help re-vamp and equip our local play park, to make it a family friendly community place to hang out and have fun in a local green space.”

“Eventually we would like to move the toddler park into this area with new play equipment and make the area family friendly.  But this will take a lot more fundraising and grants.

“Our next project is to put in place BMX ramps, so we are now fundraising for this.,” she added.

On Saturday (1 February) the Association is holding a table top sale at the St Thomas Methodist Church from 12 noon until 4 pm. On 7 March the group will be holding a bingo session and in April an Easter Egg hunt followed by prize bingo.

To find out more about the Association or to become a Volunteer or a Committee Member or donate items, please contact merrivaleparkassociation@gmail.com or find them on Facebook by searching Friends of Merrivale Park.