On Friday 3 June 2005 the children from the Parkside area of North Belfast were jumping for joy at the opening of a new playpark. The playpark was officially opened by Ann McGuinness, the former Parkside community worker and a plaque was erected in her honour.
The new play facility, funded by Urban II and Creating Common Ground, has been equipped with a slide, hobby horses, teletubby microphones, noughts and crosses games and soft flooring.
Ciarán Shannon, Programme Manager of Urban II, spoke at the launch:
“It is great to see how a relatively small investment of Urban II funds can provide such a facility for young children in an area that has suffered from multiple deprivation for a long time. This is a way in which Urban II funds can have a long term impact on the environment while at the same time have an immediate impact on local communities.”
Over eighty local children will benefit from the park and will welcome the alternative recreational opportunities to previous rioting activities at the interface. A 10-year-old girl from the area had this to say:
“Before the park was built we all played out in the street. There was glass and things thrown over. I like all the stuff in here.””
Parents from the area are also delighted and want “to help out with the park”. Alsion Crowe, member of Parkside Resident’s Committee and mother hopes this will relieve some of the community tensions:
“We’re planning lots of parties and homework classes and a summer school. The park is so pleasant in the sunshine that parents meet and chat with mugs of tea carried from their home.”
Joe Doherty, the new co-ordinator of Parkside hopes that networks and relationships can be made with the Protestant community further down the Liimestone Road.
“From hearing the anger and noise of hatred on the Limestone, we may yet hear the laughter of all our children”.
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