As part of the council’s Capital Play Development Programme, the play park in Lurgan Park has been desinated for refurbishment, with an investment of £250,000.
Before this refurbishment takes place, Council would like to hear resident’s views on where the new play park should be located. There are two options available, the existing site or a new site located close to the entrance of Waves Leisure Complex, Robert Street.
Please give us your views by completing our survey; this one will be online from 25/3/19 to 8/4/19:
https://armaghbanbridgecraigavon.citizenspace.com/health-and-recreation/lurgan-park-play-park
Sunday 17th March 2019
Banbridge Leisure Centre: 12.00pm – 5.00pm
Cascades Leisure Complex: Closed
Craigavon Leisure Centre: 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Orchard Leisure Centre: Closed (St.Patricks Parade)
Waves Leisure Complex: Closed
Monday 18th March 2019
Banbridge Leisure Centre: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cascades Leisure Complex: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Craigavon Leisure Centre: Closed
Orchard Leisure Centre: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Waves Leisure Complex: Closed
Gosford Forest Mountain Bike Trail Public Meeting
An opportunity to ride the trails, discuss issues and give constructive feedback on the trails at Gosford.
Date – Saturday 9th & 23rd March
Time – 10am – 12pm or 1.30pm – 3.30pm
10 spaces available per session.
Staff Member – Peter McAtasney
Required – Mountain Bike, helmet and outdoor clothing.
We look forward to hearing your views and comments on the day. For more information on the trails at Gosford visit www.getactiveabc.com/gosford or contact Gosford via Gosfordforest@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk
The children’s play park at Tannaghmore Gardens and Rare Breed Animal Farm is receiving an investment of a quarter of a million pounds to completely upgrade it – and work is due to start in March!
The attraction, which is popular with schools and families all year round, boasts a rare breeds animal farm, maze, and large play park which has been loved by children for years – but has been identified as due for an upgrade.
The park will close on Monday 11th March for the exciting renovation works and should be completed by July, so children will be able to enjoy the brand new facilities during the summer holidays. The other areas of Tannaghmore Gardens, including the animal farm, will be unaffected by the works.
Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Councillor Julie Flaherty, commented:
“I am so excited to see the plans for the new play park in Tannaghmore! This facility will represent the largest investment in fixed play so far in ABC Council, and I am pleased that it will be tailored for specific age groups with areas for young children and toddlers, as well as more challenging play equipment, such as a zip line, for older children including teenagers.
“The inclusive play area has been designed for children of all needs, with sensory play panels and a fantastic wheelchair accessible in-ground trampoline.”
The £250,000 investment is part of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council’s £4.75m Play Strategy 2018-2026. The eight-year strategy puts ABC Council at the forefront of health, recreation and leisure in Northern Ireland, actively championing play to help improve understanding of its critical importance to children and young people.
While the play park at Tannaghmore is closed to accommodate the work, children can use the nearby Kinnego Marina play park which was upgraded in 2018.
Residents are invited to come along and have their say on a proposed play park in Avenue Road.
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council is hosting a public meeting at Avenue Road Community Centre on Wednesday 27th February at 7.00pm to discuss the equipment, layout and design.
At the meeting residents will be given the chance to have their questions answered about the proposed play area and learn how council aims to implement the good practise design principles outlined within its play strategy, enhancing play value at existing sites and ensuring the future new development delivers a quality play experience for everyone.
For more information, contact the play development officer on 0300 0300 900.
“Play is crucial to children’s healthy development and happiness and is vital for children’s mental health and wellbeing.”
It is through playing that children, from a very young age, engage with and learn about the world around them. Play allows children to create and explore the world, developing lifelong skills and competencies. From birth through to teenage years, babies and children develop important social and emotional skills through watching, listening and interacting with you and through their play. Good play experiences can therefore help nurture children’s emotional and mental health.
Life often throws challenges our way and it through talking, listening, interacting and playing that children learn to deal with these situations and develop new knowledge and coping skills.
As parents remember you play a vital role in encouraging children to be healthy:
- Make time for fun and “down time” with your children, especially as they get older.
- Enjoy some time watching, listening and playing with your child.
- Allow your child to learn from their own mistakes with support.
- Give your child age appropriate freedoms and help them learn their own limits. Show them you trust them to make appropriate decisions.
Evidence suggests that time spent in the natural environment offers developmental, emotional and overall health benefits for children. There are numerous benefits ranging from increased creativity and problem solving skills, reduced stress and anxiety, and increased physical activity.
Children who spend time outdoors in natural environments can be:
- Happier – studies show fresh air, sunshine and increased activity levels all encourage good mood and reduce tendencies toward poor mental health.
- Healthier – being outdoors in the natural environment helps children to access fresh air and vitamin D; indoor air is usually less healthy.
- Calmer – exposure to nature and being outdoors can contribute to a healthy heart rate and reduced muscle tension including the production of stress hormones.
- More physically active – children playing in natural environments can improve their motor fitness, coordination, balance and agility.
- Better vision – being outdoors is good for eye health and time spent outdoors can help reduce short-sightedness in children.
“There’s no way that we can help children to learn to love and preserve this planet, if we don’t give them direct experiences with the miracles and blessings of nature.” – Anita Olds
Free Tai Chi for Health classes will be taking place in Brownlow Community Hub starting on 25th February until Monday 8th April 2019 from 10.00am – 11.00am.
Tai Chi for health is a series of relaxed, gentle movements that can improve fitness, muscle strength, flexibility, balance and reduce the risk of falling. Tai Chi is particularly beneficial for people with arthritis, however anyone can enjoy the health benefits of the programme.
To book a place please contact Cathy Devlin on Tel: 028 3831 2533 or email cathy.devlin@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk.
Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.
Congratulations to the 72 girls who recently attended the Youth Sport Trust Girls Active Inspiration Day held in Craigavon which saw them developing their leadership and marketing skills.
The girls will now go back to their schools as role models and leaders with the confidence to encourage other girls to become more active through improved marketing and the delivery of new activities which appeal to a wider range of girls.
Youth Support Trust continue to make a positive difference to the lives of children and young people, through improving mental and physical wellbeing, providing leadership opportunities and increasing overall achievement levels.
For more information on the work that Youth Support Trust do visit https://www.youthsporttrust.org/.
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council will be holding a public meeting in Aghacommon on the 29th January as it forges ahead with implementing its play strategy and delivering its ambitious programme of improving outdoor play provision for all children across the borough.
With the public meeting organised, residents in each locality are encouraged to engage with the council and play an active role in bringing exciting play development proposals to fruition.
The Tannaghmore Gardens play park meeting will be held on Tuesday 29th of January at 7.00pm in St. Patricks Primary School, Aghacommon, Derrymacash Road.
These public meetings present a unique opportunity for members of the local community to share the views on site preference, design and layout of the play park along with choice of play equipment. The council is committed to ensuring its extensive portfolio of play parks are maintained to the highest standards, developed to meet local need and well designed to provide quality play experiences for children in all parts of the borough.
For more information. contact the play development officer on 0300 0300 900.