Play park given go-ahead

Play park given go-ahead

22 March 2017

THE £33,000 redevelopment of Bridge Street play park in Downpatrick will be underway within weeks.

The Department for Communities and County Down Rural Community Network has awarded funding for the immediate upgrading of the park.

The news was confirmed at a meeting of Newry Mourne and Down Council’s Active and Healthy Communities committee on Monday night.

It means the council’s plans to amalgamate Marian Park, Ardmore Avenue and Bridge Street into a single park as part of its wider play strategy will be re-examined with Bridge Street now taken out of the rationalisation model.

News that Bridge Street park will be redesigned has been welcomed by local councillors Gareth Sharvin and William Walker.

Mr Sharvin said it was one of many play parks that had been pinpointed through the council’s play strategy as requiring funding to bring the value of play to a good standard. 

“The investment will now make the play park playable and provide a place for families to enjoy,” he said.

“The work is expected to be undertaken within the next couple of weeks and completed within April.”

Mr Walker said he hoped the council would properly maintain the new facility and said this had not been done properly by the local authority in the past.

“I demand that the council keeps on top of the maintenance of the new park o make sure it does not deteriorate as the last park did,” he said.