Warrenpoint Municipal Park Closes in Preparation for Restoration Work

Warrenpoint Municipal Park has now closed prior to the commencement of restoration work to restore and upgrade facilities.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council successfully received funding of £850,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Parks for People Programme towards the project. With the recent appointment of the Main Contractor Quinn Automatic Ltd, the proposed project of restoration and regeneration will commence within the next couple of weeks with completion in summer 2018.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Roisin Mulgrew said, “I am delighted that Newry, Mourne and Down District Council can now begin works in the historic Warrenpoint Municipal Park. It is listed on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest Northern Ireland and this important restoration project will preserve the heritage of this beautiful park for future generations to enjoy.”

The project will safeguard the park’s many historic features: the listed bandstand, which is one of the finest remaining examples in Northern Ireland, will be carefully restored; the Pavilion Building, which dates from the 1930s, will be reestablished as an Interpretive Centre; the original planting will be reinstated and pathways will be resurfaced.  A new coherent range of street furniture will also be installed as part of the works to include lighting, seats, bins, a park shelter, park notices and signage.

Cllr Mulgrew continued, “The children’s play area will be upgraded with the installation of new play equipment and play surfaces and the tennis courts will be upgraded to an informal games area with specialist surfacing for tennis and other games. An associated development programme of activities and events for the community and visitors will also form part of the project, providing opportunities for users to engage with the heritage of the park.”

Anna Carragher, Chair of Heritage Lottery Fund Northern Ireland added, “This is such a special Park which has been used and loved by the local community for generations.  We are delighted to be involved in breathing new life into the Park’s historic features, providing new and improved facilities and opportunities for everyone to learn more about its unique history.”