Both towns are close neighbours that have a good deal in common, but can they be made more attractive for future generations?
Encouraging more people to live in the town centres, reducing the volume of traffic, particularly in Cookstown, and improving infrastructure might help.
Here are 12 suggestions on how to make Cookstown and Magherafelt better towns. Have you any other ideas?
5. Electric charging points
More electric vehicle charging points are badly needed in Cookstown and Magherafelt town centres. A visitor to Cookstown recently found himself with nowhere to charge his car battery as the few charging points in the town where out of order. Pictured is a charging point at Union Street carpark in Cookstown. Photo: Google Maps
6. Nowhere to spend a penny
Proper public toilets are urgently needed in Magherafelt. The original toilet block was located at the junction of Rainey Street and the public car park. The building was demolished some years ago and the toilet facilities haven't yet been replaced. Photo: Alan Powdrill
7. Empty shops
The growing number of empty shops in Cookstown and Magherafelt has produced calls for more effort to be put in to attract people back into living in the town centres. Photo: Google Maps
8. Skateboarding park
Over the years there have been campaigns (and petitions) - both in Cookstown and Magherafelt - for a purpose-built skateboard park. A centrally located park could be shared and would take young people away from using the grounds of public buildings and shopping centre car parks. Photo: Daniel Milchev