THE council has been urged to work towards ensuring Downpatrick’s Dunleath Playing Fields and Grove “realise their full potential as shared civic spaces”.
At a recent meeting of the Downpatrick Regeneration Working Group, Sinn Féin councillors Philip Campbell and Oonagh Hanlon asked local authority officials to explore various options for the town locations and to assess the feasibility of carrying out enhancements at both.
In a statement, the DEA representatives said that they “presented proposals to develop Dunleath as a multi-use event space, building on the success of the recently installed skate park and pump track”.
They also emphasised “the need for any proposals to carefully consider site constraints, including flooding, while maximising its potential as a high-quality, accessible space for the whole community”.
They also “requested further exploration of improvements to the Grove, recognising its strategic role in linking key attractions such as Down Cathedral, the Saint Patrick Centre and the Downpatrick and County Down Railway”.
The aim, they said, was to “strengthen it as a safe, welcoming and family-friendly environment that supports both community use and tourism”.
Cllr Campbell stated:
“To help progress these opportunities, we are asking officials to examine the options available and bring forward proposals that are deliverable and aligned with the Living High Streets Framework.
“That framework, developed with strong community input, identifies both Dunleath and the Grove as key areas for regeneration.
“We believe there is real potential to better connect these spaces and enhance their role within the town.”
Cllr Hanlon added:
“We want to see continued positive progress for Downpatrick, and this starts with taking a practical look at what can be achieved.
“The recent investment in Dunleath has been very positive, and we now need to build on that by exploring the next steps in a structured and sustainable way.
“This is about ensuring these spaces are used to their fullest potential for the benefit of the whole community.”
