ENABLING works are underway at Elgin’s Cooper Park ahead of a project to deliver ‘significant’ improvements to the town’s main green space.
The project, which is backed by £18 million from the UK Government’s levelling up fund, will see the park’s pond revamped to feature a new walkway, the creation of a new café, and public realm enhancements.
Initial works will see the draining of the pond to allow for essential maintenance, as well as vegetation management to enhance biodiversity and improve sight lines, and tree felling where necessary.
Mitigation measures will also be installed on the pond islands to prevent nesting by the swans while the work is undertaken. These measures are in-line with the swan protection plan produced by the ecologists advising Moray Council and includes the installation of reflective tape and windmills to deter nesting; ramps around the perimeter wall to allow swan to exit safely; and the creation of mini ponds to provide a habitat for pond weed and other living organisms while the pond is drained.
By the start of March, the Cooper Park toilet block will undergo a full refurbishment. This upgrade will provide modern, accessible facilities for all park users. The extension and altering of the existing toilet block into a café, with new public toilets, including a Changing Places facility, is due to complete by late Summer 2026, Moray Council said.
In March, full works will also begin on improving the Cooper Park pond area. These enhancements will create a more attractive and sustainable feature for wildlife and visitors. New landscaping and planting to enhance biodiversity, improved walking routes and play facilities, and refurbishment of historic features will create a more accessible, inclusive public space.
Chair of Moray Council’s economic development and infrastructure services committee, councillor Marc Macrae, said, “Cooper Park is a much-loved space at the heart of Elgin, and these improvements will make it even more enjoyable for residents and visitors. The Levelling Up Fund investment allows us to enhance facilities, improve biodiversity, and create a park that meets the needs of our community now and in the future.”
