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Newry has been seeking a public park for many more years than previously thought. Almost 100 to be precise!
Although It is hoped that it won't be much longer before Newry has its very own park, with consultation well under way at present for a public park at the Albert Basin.
Canal Street businessman, Bertie Flynn came across an item discussing a Proposed Public Park for Newry while reading an article in a local paper from the early 1920's about the tragic drowning of his Uncle, John Kearns on the Fathom Line.
The article mentioned how Newry Urban Council had carried a resolution for the Town Clerk to take an option of purchasing several acres on the Warrenpoint Road. It appears that 'Willis Park' is where Newry Bowling Club now operated **
The Article (Circa 1922) Proposed Public Park for Newry
Yesterday at a meeting of the Newry Urban Council in committee a resolution was carried empowering the Town Clerk to take from Mr Thomas P. Willis the option of purchasing several acres of ground on the Warrenpoint Road for the purposes of a public Park, subject to the sanction of the Ministry of Home Affairs for Northern Ireland, after a local inquiry, to an application for sanction to a necessary loan in connection with the scheme.
Consultation
If you are interested in the new park at the Albert Basin and haven't already filled in the survey please do so at WWW.SURVEYMONKEY.CO.UK
Update 6/7/20 10pm ** Thanks to John McCabe for pointing out that Thomas Pollard Willis on his retirement in 1922 as a gesture of good will donated a piece of his land to the Urban Council. The park was to be named 'Willis Park' and it's the area which today Newry Bowling Club operate from today. It is not known at this time if it actually was a park for a time!
