Ritchie sets the ball rolling on Armagh sports facility

Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie MLA today visited Armagh to mark the commencement of work on a new football pitch at Cathedral Road.

The Minister performed a sod cutting ceremony on site for the £275,000 project which when completed will provide a much needed recreation facility for Cathedral Road residents.

The project is being jointly funded by a contribution of £175,000 from the Department’s Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund and £100,000 from Armagh City and District Council.

Speaking at the sod cutting ceremony the Minister said “I am delighted to be involved in this major project which represents an excellent example of central and local government working together to deliver benefits for the community.

This project represents a further DSD commitment to the Cathedral Road complex adding to previous projects to extend the community facilities and provide play facilities for children of all ages.  This investment will encourage safe recreation and promote the health and well-being of our young people.”

The project involves the replacement of an outdated and poor quality tarmac/shale facility with a state of the art third generation playing surface constructed to modern day standards.

The Minister also met a number of young people who had benefited from an earlier £68,000 project funded with a contribution of £58,000 from DSD and £10,000 from Armagh City and District Council. The project involved the provision of sports gear and equipment for a range of sporting organisations operating within the Armagh Neighbourhood Renewal Area.

Minister Ritchie said “Sporting organisations play a major, and in many cases unsung role, in helping us to meet our social and community renewal objectives.

Through their activities they help to foster a culture of community involvement and volunteering.  

They generate a sense of pride and identity within the areas in which they operate, and introduce discipline within the young people with whom they engage.  They also contribute to the promotion of good health and well being of all those who participate in sporting activity.”

The Minister also paid tribute to the Armagh Neighbourhood Partnership who had recognised the need for this scheme in its Vision Framework and Action plan for regenerating the area. She said: “One of the key factors in successfully tackling deprivation and assisting regeneration is through a partnership approach involving the public, private and community sectors.  I recognise the important role which community representatives have to play as an equal partner in this process and I am committed to ensuring that local people have the capacity to contribute to the decision making process.”

Notes to Editors:

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