‘Out to Play’ at Shaftesbury Park

Carrickfergus Borough Council held its first family ‘Out to Play’ session in Shaftesbury Park. This event focused on free, unstructured play and was facilitated by the Council’s Parks and Countryside Section and Play Board NI. At the event, children of all ages were encouraged to play in whatever way they wanted – most importantly, there were no rules.

 

Team work - the Villiers and Farmer families build a den and swings

at Shaftesbury Park in Carrickfergus

 

Eve and Daniel Currry having a 'splashing time' at Shaftesbury Park in Carrickfergus

Playday in Carrickfergus

Playday is the national day for play and takes place on Wednesday 6th August from 11am to 3pm in the Marine Gardens in Carrickfergus. To celebrate Playday, children, young people and communities get out and play at hundreds of community events across the UK. As well as a celebration, Playday is an opportunity to campaign on issues affecting children's play. 

 

Alderman May Beattie, Chairperson of the Parks, Countryside and Amenities Sub-Committee said “This is a great opportunity to enjoy the Marine Gardens Play Area and for Playday we have a number of additional free activities such as a bouncy castle, face painting, balloon modeling, Punch and Judy and DJ on site.” 

 

Alderman Beattie added “Play is such an important part of any child's development and Playday provides a fantastic opportunity to celebrate it and promote its many benefits. It also highlights the benefits of imaginative play to parents and communities.”  

 

“Outdoor play is vital for any child, providing stimuli to learn and the health benefits of being in the open air. The range of play opportunities on offer in Carrickfergus Borough is extensive and gives parents and carers some great opportunities to get outdoors with their youngsters".  

 

“Getting outside to play is healthy. It’s part of a healthy lifestyle. Play reduces stress and helps fight the obesity epidemic in our society today. So many good things come from good play.”  

 

“This year, we're calling on everyone to celebrate Playday 2014 and show why play is fundamental to children's enjoyment of childhood, and vital to their health, well-being and development. In light of government cuts to play services across the country, it is more crucial than ever that we unite to stand up for play.” 

 

“Carrickfergus Borough Council has set out a clear committed to children’s play with a mission to create child and family friendly play spaces which will support our young people in building relationships and learning new skills that will positively develop their capacity both socially and emotionally. Last year we published our play strategy for the Borough and the ‘Children’s Charter’ which set out our ten pledges to the children and young people of Carrickfergus Borough and how Carrickfergus Borough Council will achieve those pledges”.  Ended Alderman Beattie

 

For Further Press Information Contact: Stephen Daye, Parks & Countryside Development Officer at Carrickfergus Borough Council. T: (028) 93358000 ~ M: 0793 9633834 ~ E: parks@carrickfergus.org ~ W: www.carrickfergus.org.

 

 

Mia Walls, Jasmine Steel, Ellie Spratt and Ella Ferris from Little Einsteins Nursery in Carrickfergus.

 

Matthew Beck from Carrickfergus.

 

Council to celebrate the Miracle and Wonder of play

A feast of free family entertainment is set to thrill people of all ages at Carrickfergus' newest play park this weekend. The Miracles and Wonder Weekend event will be held at Marine Gardens in Carrickfergus on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th August 2013 from 11am to 4pm each day. This is not only a great opportunity to enjoy the new play area at Marine Gardens; we also have a number of children's activities to enjoy including bouncy castles, face painting, balloonmodelling, a DJ, giant lawn games, storytelling, Punch and Judy and much more. We also have an artist on site that will beorganising a number of arts and craft workshops.

The weekend's purpose is to celebrate the miracle and wonder of play.  The two day event is part of the Green Kids in Outer Space initiative which has been supported by the European Union's PEACE III Programme which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body and delivered locally through the CAN PEACE III Partnership.

Green Kids in Outer Space has given children and young people from across the Borough an opportunity to tell Carrickfergus Borough Council what stops them from being able to play and what would make play easier and better for them and their friends. Their views have been recorded and used to write a play strategy for the Borough of Carrickfergus. This is a document that acts like a map charting what we as a Council need to do over the next four years to improve play opportunities in our area. The strategy document will be launched in September.

The Play Park is part of an overall investment at Marine Gardens of £1.3 million, the play park is segmented into sections for toddlers, juniors and seniors, ensuring that there is good quality outdoor fun for all to enjoy. The impressive centre piece is a galleon ship reaching a height of over 30 feet and which can be found in the senior nautical adventure area. The galleon called Result, is named after the very last ship to have been built in Carrickfergus in 1893.

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Positive Play at Legg Park

Since September last year PlayBoard have been delivering a programme of outdoor play activities at Legg Park in Carrickfergus and two other parks in Antrim and Newtownabbey Council areas.

The programme has been funded by the CAN PEACE III Partnership. The CAN PEACE III Partnership is funded by the European Programme for Peace and Reconciliation which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body. The Partnership is made up of representatives from across the three council areas and is working to build positive relations and develop a confident and peaceful future for all.

Despite the wintry weather conditions over the past few months, PlayBoard’s Play Development Officers have been supporting children to become involved in a wide range of outdoor play activities within the parks. Activities have included den making, outdoor arts and crafts, traditional outdoor games and even cooking marshmallows around a fire pit!

The programme, which will run in each of the parks until the end of the summer has proven to be a big hit with children, parents and carers alike.

Speaking about the programme Alan Herron, PlayBoard’s Director of Service Delivery and Development said ““PlayBoard are delighted to be working in partnership with the CAN PEACE III Partnership and the three councils, delivering a programme supporting children’s play which is in line with the NI Executive’s Play and Leisure Policy and the PEACE III objectives”.

Alan continued “The Positive Play Programme is helping to make the parks more open and accessible for local people; with children, young people and their parents all reporting that they feel more comfortable playing in the parks, even during the winter months”.

Eamonn Keenan, a member of the Play Development team helping to deliver the programme explained, “At the outset many parents reported fears at allowing their children to play outdoors in the parks because of the dark nights. These fears have been addressed by the PlayBoard team’s presence in the parks, and thanks to the project over 320 children have been able to benefit to date from the outdoor play sessions.”

Early evaluations of the programme have indicated that it has really made an impact, with one parent saying “The PlayBoard programme is providing children and young people with a great opportunity to play outdoors in the parks - especially during the winter months when the cold, dark nights tend to keep them indoors”. Another said “The children can’t wait to come along to the PlayBoard play sessions – even the cold, dark and wet nights don’t deter them!.”

Congratulating PlayBoard on the success of the initiative, Councillor Noreen McClelland, Chair of the CAN PEACE III Partnership said “We on the PEACE III Partnership are delighted with the results from this programme. Parks and green spaces should be places for all of our community to enjoy all year round. This programme encourages families to come out to play in and enjoy their local parks”

For further details on when the play programmes are running in each of the 3 parks, please contact PlayBoard on 028 9080 3380 or visit the PlayBoard NI Facebook page.

Works starts on Marine Gardens play area

Work has started on the new Marine Gardens play area. See designs in Compass Magazine at http://www.carrickfergus.org/fs/doc/Queen%20Compass%202012.pdf.

Playday in Carrickfergus

Residents of Windmill and Minorca Drive in Carrickfergus had a fun time at Playday this week. Playday is the national day for play, traditionally held on the first Wednesday in August. Playday 2011 was on 3rd August with an event in Windmill Play Area, Carrickfergus taking place from 11am to 1pm.

Stephen Daye, Parks & Countryside Development Officer said “This was an excellent opportunity to enjoy the new £50,000 extension at Windmill Play Park. Amid the flurry of activity, we had face painting, balloon modeling, bouncy castle, competitions and games. The family-friendly fun free event was designed to promote the importance of outdoor play for young children and encourage adults to get involved too. Play is such an important part of any child's development and Playday provides a fantastic opportunity to celebrate it and promote its many benefits. It also highlights the benefits of imaginative play to parents and communities”


“Outdoor play is vital for any child, providing stimuli to learn and the health benefits of being in the open air. The range of play opportunities on offer in Carrickfergus Borough is extensive and gives parents and carers some great opportunities to get outdoors with their youngsters. Getting outside to play is healthy. It’s part of a healthy lifestyle. Play reduces stress and helps fight the obesity epidemic in our society today. So many good things come from good play.”

“Windmill Play Park which opened last month was funded from the EU PEACE III Programme, which is managed by the Special EU programmes body and delivered by the Carrickfergus, Antrim & Newtownabbey (CAN) PEACE III Partnership.” end Mr. Daye

To celebrate Playday, children, young people and communities get out and play at hundreds of community events across the UK. As well as a celebration, Playday is an opportunity to campaign on issues affecting children's play.

This year, we're calling on everyone to celebrate Playday 2011 and show why play is fundamental to children's enjoyment of childhood, and vital to their health, well-being and development. In light of government cuts to play services across the country, it is more crucial than ever that we unite to stand up for play.

Launch of Windmill Play Area extension

Residents of the Windmill & Minorca Drive area in Carrickfergus will be enjoying a new Play Area extension, regardless of ages or abilities. So says the Mayor of Carrickfergus, Alderman Jim McClurg who will officially open the new extension on Saturday 2nd July 2011.

Launch of Windmill Play Area extension

Alderman McClurg said “Following local consultation through the Windmill & Minorca Drive Residents Association it was agreed that we needed to cater for recreational needs of residents regardless of age or ability. “The play area provides an excellent opportunity for children, parents and grandparents to come together in a safe and fun environment. The play area equipment not only provides recreational activities for children, but also caters for the older generation that wish to improve health and mobility through the inclusion of specially designed exercise units.”

“One of the underlying priorities for this project was to build and create friendships within and between neighbourhoods and increase community cohesion. The Windmill & Minorca Drive area is the Borough’s only shared neighbourhood which enabled us to apply for funding from the PEACE III Programme, managed by the Special EU programmes body and delivered by the Carrickfergus, Antrim & Newtownabbey (CAN) PEACE III Partnership. “The central purpose of the shared neighbourhood programme is to develop neighbourhoods where people choose to live, regardless of their religion or race, in an area that is safe and welcoming.” Ended Alderman McClurg

Councillor Noreen McClelland, Chair of the CAN Peace III Partnership added “The Partnership has been delighted to provide funding to this programme which has provided communities with a real opportunity to unleash their creativity and to present their area in a positive and artistic way”