New paths, fencing and chopperpad works at St Columb’s Park

©/Lorcan Doherty Photography - 6th July 2015.

Launch of St Columb's Park Public Realm

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council , Councillor Elisha McCallion at the launch, with, from left, Xavier Jeanne, Landscape Architect, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Mr. Jim and Maureen Erne, St. Columb's Park Allotment Association, Raymond McGuinness, Hawthorne Heights building contractors, Paul McNaught DSD, Frank Morrison, Head of Capital Projects and Building Control, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Helen Henderson , director, St Columb's Park House, James McCloskey, NWA partnership and Colin Kennedy Parks Development Manager, Derry City and Strabane District Council.

Photo Lorcan Doherty Photography — ©/Lorcan Doherty Photography - 6th July 2015. Launch of St Columb's Park Public Realm The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council , Councillor Elisha McCallion at the launch, with, from left, Xavier Jeanne, Landscape Architect, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Mr. Jim and Maureen Erne, St. Columb's Park Allotment Association, Raymond McGuinness, Hawthorne Heights building contractors, Paul McNaught DSD, Frank Morrison, Head of Capital Projects and Building Control, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Helen Henderson , director, St Columb's Park House, James McCloskey, NWA partnership and Colin Kennedy Parks Development Manager, Derry City and Strabane District Council. Photo Lorcan Doherty Photography

The works, completed in time for summer, brings investment in this area of Londonderry by the Department of Social Development (DSD) to almost £1.8 million over recent years.

Social Development Minister Mervyn Storey said: “Completion of the Public Realm works within St Columb’s Park brings my Department’s investment in this area of Londonderry to almost £1.8 million and complements earlier works on the Waterside Greenway, the renovation of St Columb’s Park House and the development of the Foyle Arena.”

The Minister added: “St Columb’s Park is a fantastic green space in the Waterside which has been opened up to the entire city thanks to the Greenway and Peace Bridge. “These works will improve the visitor experience to the park and, no doubt, increase the number of people using it.”

The St Columb’s park allotments have also benefitted from the investment with a new perimeter fence while the access path has been upgraded and additional car parking space has been provided.

Mayor Elisha McCallion said she was delighted that the public project had successfully enhanced the existing St Columb’s Park House, opening it up to the adjoining park by providing an improved interior path network, new fencing and lighting and general enhancement works.

“This is a fantastic investment for the city and district that successfully enhances and opens up one of our most popular shared spaces.

“We are delighted that the DSD have provided us with the funding to carry out these works to complement our existing offering form walkers and cyclists at the Waterside Greenway to make the park more accessible and user friendly for everyone who wants to enjoy the natural beauty of the area,” she said.

Thanks to funding of £404,000 from the Department for Social Development and £40,000 from the former Derry City Council through its Parks Development Programme, the work on the exciting investment project for the city was complete in time for the summer months.

The development follows the construction of the popular new Waterside Greenway, which extends from St Columb’s Park to the Foyle Bridge and will eventually run all the way to Strathfoyle.

The cyclepath and walkway has opened up a section of the Foyle riverside that had hitherto been blocked off to walkers and citizens.

More recently the impressive new Foyle Arena has also been opened to the public.

The state-of-the-art £12.7m Foyle Arena opened its doors to the public in April.

Hawthorn Heights carry out £400k in the recent enhancements of pathways, allotments and park furniture in St Columb’s Park.

The work has been underway since January and has finally now come to fruition just in time for the good weather.

The completion of the work was officially welcomed by local notables and dignataries.