THE new Brandywell Play Area threw open its gates for the first time today, one of four exciting new play facilities planned for the District.The park, which is part of the wider Brandywell Regeneration Project, is jointly funded by the Executive Office through the Social Investment Fund under the NI Executive’s Delivering Social Change framework, and the Council through its Parks Development Programme.
A formal celebration of the opening will take place this summer as part of the wider Brandywell Regeneration Scheme.
Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Maolíosa McHugh, today welcomed the completion of the play area, which is the second to be successfully delivered under the Invest in Play Programme:
“I’m delighted to see the park completed and I know residents in the area will be thrilled to have this vibrant shared space for youngsters to enjoy.
“Council is very much committed to delivering first class play provision, especially for children in urban areas, and the £3.5m Invest in Play Programme will make such a difference for local communities.
“When completed the facilities will help promote social interaction and physical activity among our young people and provide a hub for families to come together and have fun in the outdoors.”
Welcoming the opening a spokesperson from The Executive Office said: “The opening of the Brandywell Playpark project is a significant milestone in the delivery of this excellent initiative.
“This project highlights how the Social Investment Fund enables central and local government to work together with communities to deliver real benefits for local people.
“The investment in the Brandywell playpark is part of a wider £3m Social Investment Fund project involving four high quality play facilities in deprived areas in the Derry and Strabane District Council Area.”
Charles Lamberton, Strategy Manager from TRIAX, said the park would be a great addition to the facilities for young people in the local area.
“The Brandywell Play Area is the second of four projects to be successfully delivered under the Invest in Play Programme funded by the Social Investment Fund.
“The development of the Playpark in the Brandywell sees the completion of the Triax Play Plan which has seen the regeneration of Abercorn Road, Bull Park, Bishop Field and Brandywell as area play parks and smaller local parks in the Fountain, Ballymagowan, Oakland and the Urban Park at Inveroe Gardens.”
The Ballyarnett Play Area was opened in November 2017, and work continues on the Ballymagroarty and Kilfennan Play Areas which are due to be opened in early summer 2018.
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