It’s one of the busiest and most popular play areas within Armagh City and District.
But, despite repeated attempts and traffic studies, calls for a pedestrian crossing to the Mill Field have been rejected.
That is until now.
Roads Minister Danny Kennedy has now given confirmation that a pedestrian crossing will be provided.
And, in fact, it is hoped that construction and completion will be carried out within the next three months.
The Mill Field – or Kingston Memorial Playing Fields – draws young people from a wide area and surrounding estates, including the Folly, Drumadd, Orangefield, Ballinahone, Gough Avenue and others.
The enclosed site is popular with parents but, situated beside the busy Barrack Hill, and where the entrance to the Folly and Ballinahone converges, and in close proximity to the main Hamiltonsbawn Road, safety has always been a concern.
No less than three traffic studies have been conducted in recent years since the redevelopment of the playing fields, but traffic levels were never deemed to be above the threshold required for a crossing.
Parents will be delighted now that Minister Kennedy has agreed that the much-needed facility can be funded under an active schools programme.
The Mill Field boasts a state-of-the-art play area for children alongside a soccer pitch, brought back into productive use in recent years by the Armagh Boys’ and Girls’ Club and now the venue for the annual Armstrong Cup competition.
Picture: Google Street View
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