The former St Eunan's Primary School site has been transformed into an attractive and exciting community park which opened in 2021. It provides 2 hectares of green space in an urban area where there was a clear shortfall of quality green infrastructure.
Following the demolition of the school in 2011 the site lay derelict and inaccessible. In 2016 the local community were asked for suggestions on the future use of the site. Creating a new community park was the favoured option. £448,000 to help deliver the project was awarded from the Scottish Government's Green Infrastructure Fund, led by Nature Scot, as part of a Scottish programme to improve the urban environment of Scotland's larger towns and cities. An additional £900,000 was allocated from the Council’s capital budget.
The park has been a welcome addition to the local area. It incorporates areas for biodiversity, recreational, children’s play and outdoor education. It also includes a community garden with raised bed allotments providing opportunities for food growing. Open and well-lit paths through the site improve connections for pedestrians and cyclists between the town centre to the south and residential areas to the north.
The local community came up with the name for the park. They were asked to submit suggestions that referenced the area’s history and heritage. Melfort Park was considered the most appropriate as it ties in with Melfort Avenue which bounds the park, to the north, and from which two access points are provided.