Forest Park echoes with children’s laughter as new play facility opens

Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots MLA recently previewed phase one of a new £1.5 million state-of-the-art play park at Hillsborough Forest Park.
By Julie-Ann Spence
Published 20th Aug 2020, 11:52 BST
Alderman Jim Dillon MBE, Development Committee Chairman; Edwin Poots MLA, Rural Affairs Minister; Abbie Cummings, pupil of Beechlawn Special School; Alderman Michael Henderson MBE, Leisure and Community Development Committee Chairman, siblings Cathy and Aidan O’Connor from Peter's Patch Nursery and After School and Councillor Nicolas Trimble, Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City CouncilAlderman Jim Dillon MBE, Development Committee Chairman; Edwin Poots MLA, Rural Affairs Minister; Abbie Cummings, pupil of Beechlawn Special School; Alderman Michael Henderson MBE, Leisure and Community Development Committee Chairman, siblings Cathy and Aidan O’Connor from Peter's Patch Nursery and After School and Councillor Nicolas Trimble, Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council
Alderman Jim Dillon MBE, Development Committee Chairman; Edwin Poots MLA, Rural Affairs Minister; Abbie Cummings, pupil of Beechlawn Special School; Alderman Michael Henderson MBE, Leisure and Community Development Committee Chairman, siblings Cathy and Aidan O’Connor from Peter's Patch Nursery and After School and Councillor Nicolas Trimble, Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council

The Minister was joined by elected representatives from Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) to mark the occasion.

DAERA has provided just under £1m for the development through the Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Programme (TRPSI), while LCCC provided £500,000.

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Also getting the first sneak peak of the new park were children from Beechlawn School and Peter’s Patch Nursery and After School. Beechlawn School pupils and teachers, alongside the local Hillsborough community, were instrumental in the design of this new facility.

“This new facility will be a fantastic asset for the local area and I’ve no doubt that children and adults from this community will make use of such an amazing new facility,” said Mr Poots. “This project at Hillsborough is a top class example of how working in partnership can deliver real benefits for the local community. Work on phase two will commence shortly and provide even more facilities for people using the park, which I’m sure will be welcomed.”

Alderman Jim Dillon MBE, Chair of the council’s Development Committee, said: “This new play park represents £2 million worth of investment for children as Stage One of the council’s wider plan to develop Hillsborough Forest. A new 145 space car park and improvements to pathways and signage will make sure visiting is a pleasant experience for parents and children.”

Alderman Michael Henderson MBE, Leisure & Community Development Committee Chairman, added: “The benefits of outdoor play are evident as we see the children move around the park and discover all the different ways to have fun.”

Related topics:Edwin Poots MLAMBEWorkLCCCHillsboroughCastlereagh City Council