Forgotten area of Derry's city centre to be transformed as part of £400,000 investment

A MASSIVE outdoor canopy similar to that in the Craft Village is being planned for a new ‘Garden of Reflection’ planned for the city centre.

The plans for the new £400,000 garden area were unveiled at a special event hosted by the Inner City Trust on Thursday at the site of the proposed new facility, which is located in a courtyard which runs between Bishop Street and Pump Street.

Among the many features planned for the new development are a new archway from the Pump Street entrance, which will also include outdoor speakers playing music and a new ‘poetry wall’.

In addition, the Inner City Trust are also creating new paving, sculptures and wall features which will be complemented by improved shop fronts, additional lighting and new paving right through the length of the area spanning from Pump Street to Bishop street, with the project aimed to the reflect the three stages of a river.

However, the focal point of the new development will be the central meeting place at the courtyard, which will see the building of a three tier amphitheatre, a small stage and an extended canopy which will host outdoor events.