Ballymacoss Hill Play Park officially opens

Alderman Paul Porter, Chairman of the Leisure Services Committee, was delighted to join with representatives from Ulidia Housing Association and invited guests, to officially take possession of the Ballymacoss Hill Play Park.

With the Chairman of Ulidia Housing Association, Mr Tony Kennedy, OBE, Alderman Porter officially opened the Play Park.

This was built by Ulidia Housing Association as part of its social housing provision in the area.

The Council and Ulidia Housing Association have worked in partnership on a number of projects. The specification and design for the Ballymacoss Play Park was determined by both organisations.

Invited guests included the Mayor, Councillor Margaret Tolerton; the Chairman of Ulidia Housing Association, Mr Tony Kennedy, OBE; Health Minister, Mr Edwin Poots MLA; Jonathan Craig MLA and Paul Givan MLA, as well as community representatives, and, most importantly, local children.

Alderman Paul Porter said: “I’m really pleased to be a part of this successful and much-needed community play park and to perform the official opening with Mr Kennedy. I would like to acknowledge the work and effort put into the social housing project here by Ulidia Housing Association because it has transformed the area.

“The Play Area was built by Ulidia and has now been transferred back to Council ownership. Lisburn City Council previously owned the land on which the social housing was built and we will now maintain the Play Park, one of 45 play parks in the City.

“The Play Park has play equipment, bike racks and seats, which I’m sure busy mums and dads will enjoy when watching their children have fun and burn off some energy. It’s important to encourage our children to keep active and have fun at the same time as we promote physical activity in our European City of Sport year,” he said.

Mr Tony Kennedy OBE, Chair of Ulidia Housing Association, said that: The Association is delighted to complete the development of Ballymacoss Hill which includes this wonderful play area. The development consists of 146 dwellings which provide quality, affordable housing that complies with Lifetime Homes, Secure by Design and Code for Sustainable Homes Standards. On behalf of Ulidia, I welcome the residents and wish them every success in their new homes. I thank the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Department for Social Development for their support. I also welcome this opportunity to acknowledge the assistance of the Lisburn City Council in the successful design and development of the play area. In particular I would like to thank, Jonathan Craig, MLA, Paul Givan, MLA, Alderman Paul Porter, Chairman of the Council’s Leisure Services Committee and Alan Poots, Capital Projects Officer, for their assistance throughout the development of this project.”