The brand new, £5.4million Portadown People’s Park has just scooped not one but two prestigious awards from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) at a gala evening held at La Mon Hotel and Country Club.
The RICS Northern Ireland shortlisted the Shared Process and Community Engagement (SPACE) Project in two categories – the Community Benefit category and the Regeneration category – with it excelling in both to come home with two trophies!
This also means that the Park has now moved on to the national RICS Awards Grand Final in London in October for the chance to be crowned the overall UK winner in these categories.
“We are absolutely over the moon to have picked up both of the awards that we were nominated for,” commented Alderman Kenneth Twyble, Chair of the SPACE Steering Committee.
Pictured at the RICS Awards are Clifford Forbes, Community Development Officer, Michael Ruddy, Parks Development Officer, Diane Clarke, Acting Head of Community Development (Craigavon), Alderman Kenneth Twyble, Chair of the SPACE Steering Committee and Andrew Haley, Director of The Paul Hogarth Company
He added: “This Park has come a long way thanks to the recent regeneration that transformed it into a stunning shared space for all of the community to use and enjoy. Years of hard work, planning and consultation went into the rejuvenation of this Park as well as substantial community engagement to ensure that the people of Portadown would come together and enjoy this superb facility. We are delighted that all of this hard work has paid off and since the gates re-opened in October 2015 the park usage has exceeded all of our expectations.
“To then have this work formally recognised by RICS with these two awards really is the icing on the cake. We look forward to the London ceremony!”
Judges on the night commented that it was unusual for one project to win both categories, making the wins even more monumental.
If you haven’t already visited the Park come on down and check out all of the fantastic new features that have been installed and be wowed by the new look, boasting something for everyone to enjoy.
You will now find a state-of-the-art play park, themed gardens, a pond area, two bridges, two grass soccer pitches, a grass multi sports pitch catering for Soccer, American Football, Gaelic Games and Rugby as well as a 7-aside 3G synthetic pitch and 5-aside multi use games area (MUGA), both of which are flood lit.
The Park has also been totally replanted and there is even a brand new amphitheatre as well as a new car park catering for 62 cars.
