Community Wellbeing - Projects focused on improving access to play, green and blue spaces, whilst increasing biodiversity to help keep people and our environment healthy.

Kirn gardens is a welcome green space leading down to beautiful shingle beach. Historically the gardens contained a public toilet, and the beach hosted a local cafe (Reggies) that attracted visitors to the area for swimming and bathing. 

This large grassed area opposite Kirn Primary school and surrounded by housing, is also located in one of Dunoon’s areas of deprivation. 

With support from Dunoon Community Development Trust, the volunteer-led Grow Food Grow Dunoon project has transformed an underused green space and established a food growing site in the grounds of the council owned and run dementia care home at Struan Lodge.  

Managed by Argyll and Bute Council, Dunoon Cemetery sits on the edge of the town centre close to family housing and the town’s more industrial zone (Hamilton Street). The cemetery is culturally significant and includes war graves and the graves of some of Dunoon’s most significant characters. The peaceful location is also a valuable green space that is currently underutilised for recreation purposes. 

Located at the top of Mcarther Street, Valrose Terrace is home to many families, but is also one of the most deprived areas of Dunoon. Some of the houses are privately owned, but a significant number of properties at Cowal Place are managed by Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA).  

Located at the back of Dunoon Burgh Hall, Victoria Park was once a green space featuring flower beds, benches and a stunning Victorian water fountain donated by Provost Doig in the late 19C. 

The Rose Garden was once a well looked aftert green space with a public toilet.  Today the roses are long gone, and the much-needed public toilet is closed and becoming derelict.  

The Play Park at West Bay is the only dedicated play park in Dunoon and Kirn. It was upgraded over a decade ago following a community fundraising campaign. It serves the local community all year round and is a key facility for visitors with young children. Split into two enclosed sections and surrounded by green space with low biodiversity or recreation value, the play park needs ongoing maintenance and development. Equipment needs upgraded to include a wider variety of accessible play options and to offer play opportunities for young people. 

Castle Hill and the surrounding green space is an historic landscape containing many monuments and architectural features that collectively tell the story of Dunoon from the building of the original Castle  right through to the American Years. 

West Bay is 1000 meters of walkable promenade along a natural shingle beach looking south onto the Firth of Clyde. West Bay hosts hotels, houses, cafes, a miniature golf course, the University of Highlands and Island’s Dunoon campus, a pavilion building with public toilets, green spaces and a very well used play park.  It is also located within Dunoon's Conservation area.