Ballymena entries in running for UK’s ‘Best Park’ award

Whether they win, however, could be up to YOU!

The Council has entered six of its green spaces in the competition...Diamond Jubilee Wood, Whitehead; Dixon Park in Larne; the ecos Nature Park, Ballymena; Greenisland Play Park, Greenisland; Marine Gardens, Carrickfergus; and The People’s Park, Ballymena.

Organised by the Fields in Trust Awards, this new category provides the public with an opportunity to vote for their favourite local green space, whether that’s a park, sports field, playground, woodland or something else entirely.

Fields in Trust was founded in 1925 as the National Playing Fields Association by King George V and it aims to ensure that everyone should have access to free, local outdoor space for sport and recreation.

Speaking about the Awards, the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Billy Ashe, said: “We have some fantastic parks in Mid and East Antrim borough and I would encourage everyone to vote for their favourite.

“It might be that your local park is great for a Sunday afternoon stroll or a hive of activity for children.

“If you think your local park is special and deserves the recognition of a Fields in Trust Award then please vote online,” he said.

Voting opened at 5pm on Thursday, November 5, and runs until 5pm on Wednesday, November 25. Voting will be conducted using a ‘one vote per email address’ rule. Just visit http://fieldsintrust.org/bestpark/nominations to vote.

The three parks with the highest number of votes will be shortlisted.

Also, the first person to nominate each of those three parks will be invited to attend the Fields in Trust Awards Ceremony at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Wednesday, December 2.

The winning park will be revealed on the evening and its nominator presented with an award on the park’s behalf. The winning park will then take the title of UK’s Best Park, as voted by YOU!.