The enhancements, funded through the UK government’s Levelling Up Fund, are designed to preserve and revitalise one of Elgin’s most cherished green spaces, ensuring it remains a welcoming and accessible area for residents and visitors alike.

The first phase of works on the pond will begin over the coming weeks in mid-February.

These will include draining the pond to allow for essential maintenance and future improvements; vegetation management to enhance biodiversity and improve sightlines; and tree felling where necessary for safety and health reasons and to allow works for the toilet block refurbishment 

These enabling works are vital to prepare the park and the pond for the next stages of development. 

Mitigation measures will also be installed on the pond islands to prevent nesting by the swans while the work is undertaken, in line with a swan protection plan produced by ecologists advising Moray Council.

These measures include 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.

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, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the park.

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.

Cllr Marc Macrae, chair of Moray Council’s economic development and infrastructures services committee, 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.”