(L-R): Alderman Jim Dillon MBE, Development Committee Chairman; Edwin Poots MLA, Rural Affairs Minister; Abbie Cummings, pupil of Beechlawn Special School; Alderman Michael Henderson MBE, Leisure and Community Development Committee Chairman, siblings Cathy and Aidan O’Connor from Peter's Patch Nursery and After School and Councillor Nicolas Trimble, Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.

Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots MLA has previewed phase one of a new £1.5 million state-of-the-art play park at Hillsborough Forest Park, which  officially opened  in mid August.

The Minister was joined by elected representatives from Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) to mark the occasion. DAERA has provided just under £1m for the development through the Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Programme (TRPSI), while LCCC provided £500,000.

Also getting the first sneak peak of the new park were children from Beechlawn Special School and Peter’s Patch Nursery and After School. Beechlawn Special School pupils and teachers, alongside the local Hillsborough community, were instrumental in the design of this new facility.

Alderman Michael Henderson MBE, Leisure & Community Development Committee Chairman said : “We have used the forest environment to create this innovative play park for children of different ages and abilities.  It is fantastic to see young people here today building on their natural curiosity. The benefits of outdoor play are evident as we see the children move around the park and discover all the different ways to have fun on the new swings, slides, balance beams and play panels. 

“In recognition of local inventor Harry Ferguson we have also installed a tractor and aeroplane which will be great for role play and stimulating young imaginations. I would like to remind everyone to ensure they play safely in the park and to follow good hand hygiene and health and safety practice. I would like to thank the children and teachers from Beechlawn School for helping us to design such a creative space and am delighted to see them enjoying it.