A massive £4.75 million is being spent upgrading play areas in the borough.
A total of 44 facilities across the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area will benefit.
The investment is all part of planned expenditure in future leisure and recreation facilities.
This boost for children’s play was highlighted this week as the council also confirmed a £2.4 milllion capital project for Dromore Community Centre.
This comes on top of the planned million South Lake Leisure Centre in Craigavon, costing more than £30 million, and an ongoing review of sports and leisure provision in Armagh.
Work in Dromore is due to get underway next year and, when complete, it will create a more modern, fit for purpose and spacious fitness facility and better utilised space for the local community.
Planned improvements to the building include a two-storey extension to accommodate a new fitness suite fitted out with state of the art exercise equipment on the upper floor, with new brick football changing facilities with capacity for four team rooms provided on the ground floor.
The existing squash courts will be converted into a dual-purpose mini bowling alley and children’s party and community room.
To accommodate an increased number of visitors, there will be additional car parking spaces provided at the existing locations of the tennis courts and prefabricated football changing facilities. The existing gym will be used as an additional multi-purpose exercise studio, and works will also be carried out to bring the building, which was built in 1993, up to modern energy efficiency and sustainability standards.
Speaking about this significant investment, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Alderman Gareth Wilson said: “It’s great to see this capital project, which has been in the pipeline for some time, get the green light. We place a high value on improving leisure provision in the borough, offering affordable, customer and community-focused services to get more people active, with the aim of improving the health and well-being of the local community.
“In addition to this project, we are also committing significant funding to enhancing play provision at Dromore Town Park. We as a council are fully supportive of projects that have the greatest positive influence on people’s lives, and I look forward to seeing both these projects get off the ground.
“The council is continually reviewing its total leisure product with a view to making sure the diverse range of activities offered at each leisure facility meets customer needs in terms of suitability, affordability and accessibility. Visitor numbers to Dromore Community Centre have increased by approximately 50% in recent years thanks to the commitment of staff at the facility who have worked hard to put on a programme of activities that appeals to a wide range of customers.”
