£280,000 TO PLAY WITH!

Ards Borough Council has invested £280,000 in three state-of-the-art play parks - and there's more to come.

Londonderry Park in Newtownards now boasts a 'signature' playground, with the most extensive range of modern equipment suitable for toddlers to young teens, while children in Ballygowan and Ballywalter are enjoying brand new play parks with swings, slides, seesaws, climbers and a variety of other colourful and interactive equipment.

The three new facilities are part of the Council's plan to revamp play areas across the Ards area, with a total anticipated cost of close to £700,000, and follow the opening of the first play park to be completed under the programme in Portavogie last year.

Work has now also begun to upgrade play areas at Lower Crescent, Comber and The Commons in Donaghadee, while two new sites are also to be developed at Demense View in Portaferry and in the Glen Estate, Newtownards. All four will be complete April.

Alderman Margaret Craig, the Council's 'Champion of Play' is delighted that work is progressing so quickly:

"This is a major refurbishment programme, which means that children right across the Ards Borough will be able to enjoy quality play experiences using equipment which is right up-to-date," she said. "I'm delighted that these new parks are now open for play and look forward to seeing the remainder completed by the end of the year".

A further six existing play parks at Lisbarnet, the Abbots Estate in Newtownards, Millisle, Greyabbey, Kircubbin and Cloughey are also earmarked for modernisation.