NEW state-of-the-art play parks have been earmarked throughout Armagh City and District over the next number of years.
At a cost of £60,000, children in Killylea and Tullysaran will be the first to benefit.
The council formally approved the expenditure during a meeting at the Palace.
And it too features in the overall development priorities, with a £250,000 spend as part of the overall public park plans within the Palace Demesne (PICTURED).
The Palace Park project is due to be completed by March 31, 2013 and, as previously reported by Armaghi, the restoration of the famous St Brigid’s Well also forms part of the overall initiative.
The facilities at Killylea and Tullysaran will also go ahead before the end of the current financial year, depending, of course, on the rates process and the availability of funding.
During 2013/14, the plan is to develop further play parks – again at a cost of £60,000 each – at both Hamiltonsbawn and Middletown.
The search is still on for a site in the former but, in the case of Middletown, SDLP Councillor Thomas O’Hanlon has suggested the local authority speak with the Middletown Centre for Autism on the possibility of contructing the facility there.
Play areas are also being planned for the 2014/15 financial year in Poyntzpass and Mountnorris, before the amalgamation takes place of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Councils.
With regard to developing play facilities in the Drumarg, Callanbridge and Mullacreevie areas of Armagh City, Sinn Fein Councillor Roy McCartney said this could be progressed through Neighbourhood Renewal.
