New Play Park Provision for Communities in Hilltown and Kilclief

Residents in Hilltown and Kilclief will be able to enjoy new play parks in their local communities, thanks to funding from Mourne, Gullion and Lecale Rural Development Partnership (MGLRDP).

MGLRDP awarded the funding of £150,000 from the Village Renewal Scheme of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme (NIRDP) 2014-2020, to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council for the develop the play parks.

Delivery of the NIRDP is administered by MGLRDP, on behalf of DAERA, under the LEADER approach with local people making the decisions on funding. 

Hilltown’s play park, located in Spelga Park, has recently undergone a major redevelopment and will now offer inclusive play for children and young people of all abilities with fun and interactive play features.  This is a welcome addition to the village of Hilltown and the play park is due to be officially opened in March 2020.

Kilclief has no existing play provision, however work is due to commence early in the spring on the construction of a new play park on a site adjacent to Kilclief GAC. The new facility will provide a range of play equipment offering an attractive, welcoming, and challenging area for children and young people of all abilities to use in the local area.

Councillor Roisin Mulgrew, Chairperson of MGLRDP welcomed the funding news. She said, “The need for the two play parks was established through extensive consultation with both local communities and will enable the children and young people in these areas to have equal opportunities to play and positively impact on their health and wellbeing. The regeneration works to both villages will improve the quality of life for rural dwellers and their surrounding areas.”

Reinforcing the Council’s commitment and support for the NIRDP, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Deputy Chairperson, Councillor Terry Andrews said, “The provision of these additional play facilities within the Council area is affirming the recommendations from both the Council’s Play Strategy and Village Plans. This makes our district an area in which local communities have access to opportunities and high-quality services whilst working in partnership with MGLRDP, DAERA and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.”

Jerome Burns, Contract Manager DAERA, said, “The Leader Programme, through which these projects will be funded, enables local people to determine the needs of their own area and decide how to address them and this is an excellent example of how the Programme is delivering on the ground.  I am sure both these play parks will be valued and well utilised by their local rural communities.”