Write a comment
The long long awaited 15 acre Newry City Park has been recommended for approval by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council at their next Planning Committee on 2 September.
This is a major step in the progress of the popular project which has taken over 12 years to get to this point. In 2014 following a blog post on Newry.ie newly formed group Newry 2020 named a 15 acre park at the Albert Basin as one of their signature asks. Much campaigning followed with what seemed like the entire community backing the campaign. The 2020 campaign ultimately proved successful but many campaigns were carried out by other citizens over many years to reach this point.
There have been a multitude of twists and turns along the way with much resistance met from many political representatives but at last the signature project for Newry has reached this point and if approved it should see work start early to mid 2027, a far cry from what was envisaged back in 2014.
Timeline
- 1986: The Albert Basin site was given to the people of Newry for £1, with a commitment made at the time to develop it as a recreation and amenity area for future generations.
- February 2014: Newry 2020 holds its first meeting with a park for Newry high on the wishlist
- October 2017: Petition for park handed in to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
- May 2020: Draft Albert Basin Park Survey suggests houses on site - Uproar followed and survey questions changed.
- 2020: Motion passed by Council stating Phase One of the Park including capping and greening of the site, and the provision of a playpark must be completed by the end of this Council term - May 2023!
- July 2021: Park stakeholder group show timeline that it would take 8 Years to complete the Park ie July 2029
- October 2021: Trade Unions host Park rally at Marcus Square
- December 2021: Then Finance Minister Conor Murphy announces £16.2m for Park from the NI Executive’s City/Growth Deals Complementary Fund
- March 2026: The council launched the official contractor procurement process for construction.
- September 2026: Park planning application goes for planning approval.
Item 8 on the Agenda LA07/2025/0365/F - Lands south of William Street, located between Newry River and the Newry Canal, at Albert Basin, Newry - City Park (Public Open Space) comprising waterside walkway; pedestrian and cycle paths throughout site; biodiversity trail; urban sports facility (incorporating pump track and skate park); toilet building (incorporating changing places facility and ancillary office and 9 kWp PV panels to roof); play park facility (to cater for multiple age groups and levels of ability); central plaza area; boat launching slipway; floating pontoon and access ramp; watersports building (incorporating boat storage, meeting room, changing and shower facilities and 14 kWp PV panels to roof); 3No. canopy sun/rain shelters; water sports storage area; maintenance building; arboretum walk (comprising native tree and shrub species); natural play area; southern plaza area; associated car parking, overspill/temporary car parking and drop off areas; 2No. dual EV charging points; cycle stands; connection to greenway; park lighting; CCTV (pole and building mounted); quay/canal wall restorations (including in-situ preservation of existing mooring rings, stone bollards and metal posts); ancillary park infrastructure (bollards, gates, fences, railings, benches/seating, bins, interpretation boards, historical markers/feature trail locations); 315kVA electrical substation; and all associated site works, infrastructure, and landscaping.
