New Play Parks open at Burren and Lurganare

Lurganare and Burren are celebrating the opening of their new community play parks, providing the latest facilities for residents.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairman, Councillor Mark Murnin, who opened the new facilities on Wednesday 6 February, alongside local councillors and school children, said, “I would like to thank the teachers of St Mary’s Primary School, Lurganare and Carrick Primary School, Burren for taking the children down to the opening of both play parks today and who share our view that outside play is fun, exciting and important for children’s learning and development.

“High quality, well-used parks bring people together and develop inclusive communities.

Inclusive play is an important part of the design of these parks, provide fun activities and help keep children healthy, and promote social inclusion which can only be good for all. Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy our parks.

“These new play parks are a result of the Council’s £3m, five-year Play Strategy that was launched in 2017. With investment of £500,000 provided from the Rural Development fund which was matched funded by the Council, we have managed to complete nine similar projects throughout the district.”

Children from local schools gathered at Barr Crescent, Lurganare to celebrate the opening of their new play park, which is the first park to have Wicksteed sport-active equipment installed. This team-based outdoor electronic platform provides a competitive play arena on which both children and adults are challenged to compete against each other. There are five different games set up within the system and through physical activity, the challenge is to beat the opposing team to the finish.

Council officials along with local school children and the community in Burren also met to enjoy the opening of Burren Village Green play park,

where they tried out the new ‘Theta’ Fitness Adventure Trail, multi-play units and zip-line installed onsite. The play park also includes a storyteller’s chair, swirl roundabouts and a block pave maze area.