Nairn water play area makes a splash ahead of schedule

Construction work on a brand-new splash pad at Nairn links has been completed a month ahead of schedule.

Contractors, Ustigate, have officially handed over the site to Highland Council, who will manage the site on behalf of Nairn Common Good.

Nairn’s splash pad is a partnership project between Team Hamish, Nairn Common Good and NICE.  It replaces the former paddling pool on the

Nairn Links and creates a water play feature which will be available longer throughout the year and provide a more accessible facility for all. The first of its kind in Highland it is an exciting new development for Nairn.

Highland Council Area Chair Tom Heggie said “I am delighted that the Nairn splash pad is now complete. It’s going to be a fantastic facility for the community of Nairn and all the visitors that come to our town every year.

“The Nairn Common Good Fund and the Council are extremely pleased to have been able to support this together with our community partners.”

Sam Hey from Team Hamish said “We are so excited to see our ideas for #TeamHamish come to fruition. This wonderful achievement was only made possible through the incredible support and generosity by the Community of Nairn, and beyond, over the last three years. The creation of this amazing SplashPad is a wonderful and lasting legacy in both Hamish and Susan’s memory and a place that can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities for many years to come.”

Although the splash pad is now complete, it is not a traditional play park and so clarity is being sought for COVID-19 compliance, to ensure that when it does open, it can be enjoyed by the whole community.  An opening date will be announced once this clarification is received.

The project has been jointly funded by Team Hamish and the Nairn Common Good Fund and project managed by the Highland Council.

Nairn couple Sam and Susan Hey lost their son Hamish to a DIPG, a rare and very aggressive form of childhood cancer, on 20th February 2017

The support Hamish’s family received from the Nairn community in the aftermath of his death was incredible and the family wanted to do something to thank everyone.

They also wanted to create a lasting legacy to their son, so they set up the charity, #TeamHamish, to raise funds for a new splash pad at Nairn beach.

Significant engagement with the local community by both Team Hamish and the Nairn Common Good Fund through the Links Development Framework highlighted that a Splash Pad was the most popular suggestion for improving the Links area of Nairn.

Tragically Susan lost her own battle with cancer earlier this year and sadly won’t get to see the completion of the project.