A councillor has raised concerns after City Hall data showed the majority of the Shankill’s play parks are at the bottom end of city scoring standards - but all have missed out on council funding this year.
DUP representative for Court Nicola Verner voiced “concern” to Belfast City Council about the proportion of play parks in the area with lower standards when compared to other parts of the city.
At the recent meeting of the council’s People and Communities Committee, Councillor Verner said: “I was looking at the list of the play parks and how they scored, and I was a bit concerned that in the bottom 20 percent, that almost a quarter of them are within Greater Shankill, and yet they miss out on any improvements because they are not in the bottom three. I just feel it is a high percentage, and I am wondering if there is anything else that can be done.”
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At the committee elected members agreed an allocated budget of £580,000 under the Playground Improvement Programme 2022-23 for three parks - Areema and Sally Gardens playgrounds in Dunmurry and Westlands playground, Cavehill.
A council officer told the committee: “It could be the case they fall into the programme for next year. They haven’t made the actual bottom three - it is about affordability, the budget is £580,000, and we can’t make it stretch to more than that. This is an annual review, and it could be that they come up for refurbishment next year. There is no further budget.
“Last year we did get additional funds from the Department for Communities, and we were able to do an extra playground. So if funds are found from another source, and then we can look at the next line.”
Councillor Verner replied: “I understand that, but there are four play parks that come within the bottom 20 percent of those identified. That is a high number of play parks available to children in a small area that are below a certain standard.”
The officer said: “The standard is still reasonably good when you look at the scores - it is not that they are poor facilities. The life cycle is around five years, and we find ourselves refurbishing playgrounds after that.
“I can look at those sites and when they were last refurbished. I know we did one in Shankill in the last couple of years, the Hammer.”
She added: “This is done in an independent way and it is looking specifically at conditions, and scoring them. So we are looking at the worst, and bringing them up to a standard. We do it on a cyclical basis, so over time they are all of a standard.
“We have had this programme since 2009, and I think our playgrounds have been well invested in, and are all generally of a good standard. The focus is on what we can afford, and the ones that are in the worst state.”
The council report on this year’s programme states: “Since its inception, the Playground Refurbishment Programme continues to make a significant and positive impact to the overall quality and play value of the city’s playgrounds; this has greatly improved accessibility, providing more inclusive equipment, safety surfacing, boundary fencing, site furniture and landscaping works.
“With continued investment over the last ten years, the council is achieving desired improvements at each of its sites. Over the last year the council has constructed a new playground at the Vere Foster site and refurbished the Ormeau 2000 (Park Road) playground. Refurbishment works at Cavehill Adventurous playground (senior section) are also nearing completion.
“In January 2022 Council secured an additional £97k of DfC funding for previously agreed refurbishment works at Clarawood Park playground (junior zone). These works are now due to commence in early June 2022.”
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