THE team at Brooke Park were celebrating today as they were awarded a coveted Green Flag Award which recognises excellence in standards across the UK.
The criteria demand the attainment of high environmental standards, setting a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas.
It must be renewed annually and this is the fourth year the historic park has been acknowledged, since it reopened after an extensive regeneration project saw the site transformed in 2016.
£5.6m was channelled into the regeneration of Brooke Park’s historic landscape, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) through its Parks for People Programme and the Department for Communities (DfC)
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Brian Tierney, today praised the work of the parks team and said the park had a special place in the hearts of the people of Derry.
“I want to congratulate the Council’s Parks Management & Development Team for all their hard work in ensuring that Brooke Park – also known as the ‘People’s Park’ – continues to meet the high standards required to achieve Green Flag status,” he said.
“The transformation in recent years has been unbelievable and the park has really re-established itself as one of our most popular visitor spots since it reopened in 2016.
“The Heritage Award recognises the immense work that has gone into promoting and celebrating the unique and fascinating history of the site which adds to its charm.
“Since the beginning of the Covid restrictions back in March our parks have become even more important in terms of the respite they offer people.
“We have come to value them as never before and Council is dedicated to providing these safe and welcoming open spaces for everyone to enjoy.
“We should all respect and protect these areas, and appreciate the hard work that goes into creating and maintaining them.”
The Green Flag Award is an internationally recognised certification for environmental quality management for parks and open spaces and 78 parks and green spaces were successful in achieving a Green Flag this year in the North of Ireland.
Dr Ian Humphreys, Chief Executive of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, said: “Northern Ireland’s parks and open spaces play a hugely important role in supporting our local communities, both in terms of providing recreational space but also for supporting health and wellbeing.
“This has been highlighted now more than ever as our parks and open spaces provided a haven to many during the difficult lockdown period.
“It is fantastic to see such a high number of sites in Northern Ireland meeting the international standard for excellence.”
For more see www.keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org
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