Family Park Raggagardur
How it all started
Vilborg Arnarsdóttir (Bogga in Súðavík) created this garden. She has had a long standing dream of creating a playground for children, families and guests visiting the Westfjords in the summer. Her intention was to encourage quality time for children to share with their parents by enabling out door activities and excercise in a dedicated area. She started serious work on the project after she lost her son, Ragnar Freyr Vestfjörð, who died in a car crash in Súðavík in 2001, only 17 years old. The garden is dedicated to his memory.
The dream came true with the help of local people, summer guests, numerous supporters of all ages and several sponsors. All those people have volunteered with dedication and loving care contributing several thousand hours of work to the garden. The garden has received many generous gifts through the years and funds have been raised using various methods. During the 11 years of its existance four tons of ´kleinur´ (Icelandic twisted doughnuts) have been baked and sold in support of the garden, children have organized lotteries and given all the income to the garden. The Association of Sheep Shepherds in Ísafjarðardjúp have supported the garden in many ways, concerts in support of the garden have been organized etc.
The construction work
The „Raggagarður Society“ was founded on January 8th 2004 to manage the design and construction of the garden. On the board of directors for the first 11 years (2004-2015) were: Vilborg Arnarsdóttir chair, Barði Ingibjartsson, Sigurdís Samúelsdóttir, Anne Berit Vikse og Jónas Ágústsson. The work started on May 14th 2004 and the playground opened on August 6th 2005. The garden has two play areas, the upper area is for older children and the lower area for the youngest. In the fall of 2013 the work on the recreational part of the garden commenced and three storage huts were built. Themes inspired by the Westfjords distinct character have been used in the garden‘s designs and artwork made of local material decorates the garden. The recreational area was formally opened on August 8th 2015.
The facilities
The recreational area has a stage with public seating for arts and cultural events and large family gatherings. There are facilities for barbecue on several locations and tables and chairs for more than 100 people inside the garden.
The guestbook and collection box are situated next to the lavatories and we kindly ask guests to sign their names in the book whenever the visit the garden. There is no admission fee for Raggagarður but contributions to the collection box are greatfully accepted. The money collected will be used for the upkeep and operational costs of the garden.
WC, BBQ and other facilities are open from June 1 to September 1. Nevertheless, you are welcome to visit the garden during other seasons as well.
The garden is made with the minds, hearts and hands of local people and their supporters. Many thanks to you all who made this project come true.
Free admission