The schemes, together with a similar facility provided in Kilwilkie, Lurgan, were funded by the Department for Social Development through the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund at a capital cost of £385,580, together with donations of land by Craigavon Borough Council and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
Speaking at the opening of the new facilities, the Minister said: “This is a great boost for young people in the Brownlow and Lurgan areas and will provide much needed recreational facilities for children and community groups in these areas.”
Minister Ritchie stressed the importance of addressing the needs of the community, providing local facilities for the participation and development of sport and physical and social activities: “These projects will contribute greatly to the regeneration of these areas by encouraging involvement in sport, improving quality of life, improving health, addressing social exclusion and reducing crime levels.”
Ms Ritchie praised the major contributions of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Craigavon Borough Council to the projects in providing the land and welcomed the support of the Council in managing the overall construction of all three games areas and agreeing to take responsibility for their future maintenance.
In the current financial year funding of over £1.3million has been approved for projects recommended by the Brownlow and Lurgan Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships. These include the provision of community bases, sports development, educational and economic regeneration programmes as well as major capital build projects in both areas.
Notes to Editors:
1. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy 'People and Place' which was published in June 2003, sets out Government’s proposals for closing the gap between the quality of life for people in the most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of society.
2. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy has four interlinking strategic objectives:
- Community Renewal - to develop confident communities that are able and committed to improving the quality of life in their areas.
- Economic Renewal - to develop economic activity in the most deprived neighbourhoods and connect them to the wider urban economy.
- Social Renewal - to improve social conditions for the people who live in the most deprived neighbourhoods through better co-ordinated public services and the creation of safer environments.
- Physical Renewal - to help create attractive, safe and sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods.
3 . Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
