13 January 2006
DEPARTMENT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTS SPRUCE UP OF DERRY'S 'BULL PARK'
The Department for Social Development (DSD) is providing trees and playground equipment to help complete the redevelopment of Derry's Bull Park.
Funding of over £33,000 from the North West Development Office will be used by the City Council to plant 90 semi-mature trees along the main avenues of the park and to install additional pieces of playground equipment and street furniture. The money is being provided under the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.
Minister for Social Development David Hanson MP said: "The support DSD is providing will complement the work already undertaken by local residents, St Eugene's Primary School and Derry City Council. The renovation of the Bull Park from the dilapidated space that it was only a few years ago into an attractive amenity is a remarkable achievement and demonstrates what can be accomplished by working in partnership.
"This project has brought a renewed sense of community identity and pride. I hope the park will be used and enjoyed by local residents thereby enhancing their quality of life. This is a key aim of Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy."
This is the final phase in the upgrade of the Bull Park and completes its redevelopment. Mayor Cllr Lynn Fleming said: "The investment from the DSD marks the final phase of the redevelopment of Bull Park and the completion of the £330,000 regeneration scheme. The scheme demonstrates the importance of involving local residents at every stage of the process, from planning, through consultation to completion. While the development is reflective of the community's needs it is also a tribute to the multi agency approach to revitalising the urban landscape and the commitment to provide green play and sports areas in communities".
NOTES TO EDITORS:
For further information please contact the DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078 or Derry City Council Press Office on 028 7137 6504.
- Derry City Council officially reopened Bull Park in July 2005. The regeneration scheme received financial support from the North West Development Office under its Neighbourhood Renewal Programme, the N.I. Sports Council and the Western Education and Library Board.
- Bull Park is within the Westland ward, one of the top 10% deprived areas in Northern Ireland. Consultation on its regeneration began with residents in 2001 and resulted in a state of the art multi-use games area and parkland at a cost £330,000.
- The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy 'People and Place' was published in June 2003 to close the gap between the quality of life for people in the most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of society.
- The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy has four interlinking strategic objectives:
- Community Renewal - to develop confident communities that are able and committed to improving the quality of life in their areas.
- Economic Renewal - to develop economic activity in the most deprived neighbourhoods and connect them to the wider urban economy.
- Social Renewal - to improve social conditions for the people who live in the most deprived neighbourhoods through better co-ordinated public services and the creation of safer environments.
- Physical Renewal - to help create attractive, safe and sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods.
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