"Gorillas" and "baboons" could soon be zipping across treetops in Scotland's first urban aerial assault course.
Glasgow City Council is backing a plan to transform acres of woodland in Pollok Park into a giant adventure playground.
However, regular visitors to the historic park are afraid the high-wire obstacle course will disturb the peace of the woodland and harm the natural environment.
The course, developed by forest adventure operators Go Ape, is earmarked for a site just a few hundred yards from the Burrell Collection in the Park's North Wood. A public consultation is now in its final month. If planning permission is granted, it could be in place as early as spring 2008.
Go Ape has already opened a similar facility in Aberfoyle, one of 12 courses it owns in the UK. It is home to the UK's longest "death slide" - 426 metres across a gorge.
Participants, known as "gorillas" and "baboons", pay £20-£25 to complete three hours of canopy walks, 40ft above the ground, overcoming obstacles including rope bridges and tarzan swings.
The Aberfoyle course, on Forestry Commission land, has attracted 9000 visitors so far. The vast majority have been adults, the eldest a partially sighted woman aged 86.
Tristram Mayhew, founder of Go Ape, said: "This is a way to help people get into the woods and see them from a different perspective. As well as giving people a sense of adventure, the thing is designed to be environmentally sensitive. It's in the treetops so there is no trampling of land and the trees can still carry on growing."
Glasgow City Council is promoting the facility as part of its health agenda, aiming to encourage teenagers to take part in active leisure.
The council's land services director Robert Booth has recommended developers be granted a 21-year lease of land in the park.
The deal will include a clause allowing free entry for up to 450 schoolchildren from disadvantaged areas.
A council spokeswoman said: "Go Ape is an exciting proposal which we are sure will capture the imagination of young people and families in Glasgow and beyond.
"We are committed to making our parks appeal to everyone including young people. We are confident an exciting outdoor activity like this would prove very popular."
However, visitors to Pollok Park yesterday were divided as to whether Go Ape was suitable for such a secluded woodland. Among those concerned was a 46-year-old mother, out walking with her three teenage daughters and their dog.
She said: "This park is wonderful as it is. You can walk around and not have to bump into people. Building a playground will take away a lot of that privacy. There's already a playground for the kids down there. We don't need a commercial venture. There are so many other places for kids."
However, Neil, 29, and Joanna, 31, MacMillan, from Hillpark, were right behind the proposal. "I think this is going to be good - there's not enough for young kids to do here," said Mr McMillan, a nurse. "This park is big enough to find peace and quiet elsewhere."
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