Minister Paul Givan visits Derry to officially open Waterside play parks
Three new projects funded by an investment of £800,800 by the Department of Communities have been officially opened today in the Waterside area of Derry.
The projects are the refurbished Clooney Community Centre and two play parks, one at Irish Street and the other at Rose Court in the Top of the Hill area.
The play parks boast modern, child-friendly and safe play facilities.
They include a variety of play equipment catering for different ages and have been designed to promote play and family based activities.
Clooney Estate Residents Association received funding of £248,355.32 while the Rose Court and Irish Street play parks were awarded £254,373 and £298,077 respectively.
They have been officially opened by Communities Minister Paul Givan who said children now hadplay parks which were “inviting, fun and safe spaces to play.”
He added: “The previous facilities at both Rose Court and Irish Street were very dilapidated and no longer fit for purpose.
“The transformation of these play parks is wonderful and the new facilities will be a great benefit to the local and surrounding communities for many years to come.”
The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Alderman Hilary McClintock said the provision of new play park facilities was” hugely significant” for the local communities.
She said: “The play parks are fantastic and provide state of the art facilities with recreational spaces for those living in the Irish Street and Rose Court areas.” .” Minister Givan also visited Clooney Community Centre, which has been redeveloped by the Residents Association to upgrade the interior, including improved layout, access and an extended kitchen. The refurbishment ensures all rooms are individually accessible and flexible for a wide range of uses.
Betty O’Reilly, Project Manager for Clooney Estate Residents Association said the refurbishment had “significantly and positively impacted upon our programmes and service delivery.”
She added: “ A bright, vibrant and efficient use of the space allows much greater scope for a varied range of programmes and services.
“It also provides a safe and secure setting for children and young people and an accessible space for all. This is an exciting time for our community and signals the birth of new growth and development in the area.”
Photo shows the then Social Development Minister Maurice Morrow,Deputy Mayor of Derry, Alderman Thomas Kerrigan, and Claire Russell, Manager, Irish Street Community Association at the sod cutting for the new Irish Street play park.