Green flag success

The park has a lot to celebrate following the exciting news that it has retained its prestigious Green Flag status for the fourth year in a row – once again proving that it is one of the premiere parks in both Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Lurgan Park – which is a Craigavon Borough Council Park - was one of the first in Ireland to gain Green Flag status in 2008 and has continued to meet the exacting standards of the Award every year since.

Green Flag applications are judged against eight key criteria including a welcoming place; healthy, safe and secure; clean and well maintained; conservation and heritage; and community involvement.

Inspectors come to the Park to check if all eight pieces of criteria are being met and ensuring that the Park lives up to these impressive benchmarks.

“We are absolutely delighted that Lurgan Park has once again retained its Green Flag status,” commented Alderman Mrs Meta Crozier, Chair of the Leisure Services Committee.

“This award scheme recognises and rewards the best green spaces in the UK. Lurgan Park is one of 11 in Northern Ireland with Green Flag status. Anyone who has ever spent time in the Park can see exactly why we deserve this status – it is a stunningly beautiful, tranquil park that has something for the whole community to enjoy. Whether fishing, boating, walking, relaxing with a book or bringing the children to the play park it is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon.

“I would also like to congratulate each and every one of our staff who work in Lurgan Park and have helped to retain this status. They deserve this accolade and I am very proud for all of them,” she added.

In 2010-2011, five parks in Northern Ireland received the Green Flag Award compared with 11 this year, showing that the value of green space is widely acknowledged as vital to our communities.

Lurgan Park attracts in the region of 2000 visitors every weekend, who come to enjoy the 259 acres including the famous lime tree avenue, the Lake, the Colebrookedale Fountain and the general beauty of the Park.

Lurgan Park is the second largest urban Park in Ireland – the biggest being Phoenix Park.