The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has confirmed that the council has passed stage one of its application to unlock funding for the restoration of Levengrove Park.

The £2.66 million Parks for People funding will help with the long awaited restoration of the many Victorian features in Levengrove, including the fountain.

It will also see the creation of a new pavilion and cafe, ensure the installation of new play equipment and will make the park more attainable for disabled residents and visitors.

West Dunbartonshire Council, Sportscotland and Historic Scotland will also contribute to the project, bringing the total investment to £3.75 million.

Delighted council leader, Martin Rooney, pictured, told the Reporter: “The restoration of Levengrove Park is a high priority for this council.

“I want to see the heritage features restored such as the Kilmahew Fountain and the victorian gateways restored but I also want new sports and play equipment in the park as well as the reintroduction of amenties such as modern toilet facilities, a cafe and interpretation signage so that the history of Levengrove can be available for local people and visitors to the park.

“The council’s bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund is progressing really well and its now time for local people to get even more involved with the planning and management of the project.” He added: “It will of course take some time to deliver all of the required improvements but the rewards for those involved, and the wider community who will benefit from the park for generations to come, will be worth all the hard work and effort.

“It’s staggering to think that Levengrove Park was first opened in 1885 and next year will be its 125th anniversary. This is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Dumbarton to celebrate the forward thinking of past generations and to help shape the next hundred years for their park.” A report confirming the authority will progress to stage two will be presented to the Infrastructure, Regeneration and Econimic Development Committee tomorrow (Wedesday).

It is hoped that the project will be completed by September 2017.

The announcement of the funding follows the publication of the HLF’s State of UK Public Parks report, which revealed the UK’s public parks to be “at serious risk of decline” unless new ways of funding and maintenance were found.

It found that, although Levengrove is the best example of a Victorian park in the region, investment is needed to save its unique heritage, which is at serious risk.

Stretching from Dumbarton to the banks of the Clyde estuary, with views to Dumbarton Rock, the park was opened in 1885 as part of the larger Levengrove House estate.

Its historic features include a medieval parish church — St Serf’s — with links to King Robert the Bruce. Colin McLean, head of the HLF in Scotland, said: “Levengrove Park is a place of sanctuary for many so we are delighted to be able to support its transformation into a pleasant, leafy green space for even more of the community to enjoy.

“I hope this news will not only encourage many more people through the gates of Levengrove Park but will also encourage other projects to come forward to benefit from Heritage Lottery investment.”