A PORTHMADOG community group is appealing to the community to help them secure funding to create a play area for the young people of the town.

Breuddwydion Bro Madog hopes to create the development on Bodawen Park and is hoping they will be successful in receiving funding of up to £25,000 from the Aviva Community Fund to carry the work out and buy equipment.

A number of community events have been held in the town and it’s been found that an overwhelming number in the community would like to see a safe place established for young people, children and older people with dementia in Porthmadog.

Angharad ap Iorwerth, who is part of Breuddwydion Bro Madog, said: “A number of public meetings have been held on the field and young people have been present and have submitted their opinion and needs for this space.

“This includes fitness equipment, a safe shelter to socialise and an event space.

“The local care home has been favourable in wishing to bring the residents to the play field for social events and to hear little children playing.

“The field has recently been listed as a Green Space that will be protected under the Millennium Playingfield Open Space.

“At the moment there is only a small space for little children to play and this only includes a roundabout, seesaw and swings and is currently underused. The new proposal will include a skating park, kick and field, numerous climbing frames and creative play area.

“There are not many opportunities for young people to get together for positive and creative activities to develop interpersonal skills. A new outdoor facility will act as a catalyst for developing activities which meet the needs of the young people and will help address problems such as low self-image, lack of confidence.

“The project will also support the work and development of community outdoor activities and will bring social benefits to the area.”

The group say the field is a large enough area to also include space for planting trees and shrubbery that will attract wildlife and provide parents to shelter whilst the children are playing.

The project will also provide opportunities to work with partners such as the youth service, pre-school play groups, local schools, police and environmental groups if the development goes ahead.

“At the moment families travel a long distance to find a park where children can play all day.

These parks are a minimum of 20 miles away. The poorest families in the area haven’t got this option and the young people feel that their local community is letting them down as they cannot walk to a park where they can hang out and take part in fitness activities.

“Breuddwydion Bro Madog has the interest of local youth and wish to continue to motivate them to become more involved in community activity and develop their skills locally,” added Angharad.

To support the development and to help Breuddwydion Bro secure their funding you can vote for them by visiting https://community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/project/view/16-3656