Minister Ritchie welcomes opening of multi use games area in Waterside

The Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie today welcomed the opening of a Multi Use Games Area in the Waterside area of Londonderry.

The games area, located at Irish Street, will offer children and young people a place to play and participate in a range of sport and leisure activities in a safe environment. It is the latest stage of the development of the Irish Street Community Centre facilities.

Speaking of the new facilities the Minister said: “This Multi Use Games Area has provided a much needed facility for local people in the Irish Street area. This project will enable the youth population of the area to participate in sports activities that will help in their personal development and enhance their performance at school.

"The well being and education of the young in our society is of paramount importance to us all and I am pleased that we can provide this new Games Area for them. It gives the community and the local people a sense of pride and encouragement and offers a brighter future for the youth who live here.”

The Department, through the North West Development Office, provided funding of £48,844 from the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund to Derry City Council towards the upgrading of the playing pitch. In addition a total of £93,725 was previously provided from the Department’s Local Community Fund and PEACE II Measure 2.11 programmes.

Mayor of Derry City Council, Alderman Drew Thompson officially opened the games area saying: "The development of the Multi-Use Games Area for Irish Street is great news for the area and will be warmly welcomed by the local community. This initiative highlights the importance of partnership working between Council and statutory agencies and local groups in delivering this much-needed facility. This investment will ensure that both children and young people can avail of new opportunities to take part in sporting activities."

Chairperson of Irish Street Community & Youth Association, Laura Smyth, added: “This facility will provide a much needed and valuable resource which we hope will be fully utilized within our community and beyond. I would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude on the completion of a major regeneration project within the Irish Street area”.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Multi Use Games Area was funded through the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund £48,844.00, PEACE II - MEASURE 2.11 £74,403.96, Local Community Fund £19,322.00 and Derry City Council £12,589.40.

2. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy ‘People and Place’ was published in June 2003 to close the gap between the quality of life for people in the most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of society. Its objectives include:

• 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.