Press Release

Youth teams open Synthetic Pitch at St Columb’s Park

Thursday 13th December 2007

Youth teams put St Columb’s Park Synthetic Pitch through its paces today as they participated in the official opening of the new facility funded by Department for Social Development and Derry City Council.

Attended by Minister Ritchie and Mayor Alderman Drew Thompson, the official opening signifies an investment of over £634,000 in a state of the art turf floodlight pitch for soccer, hockey, rugby and gaelic games. Children from Good Shepherd PS and Oakgrove Integrated PS took part in a special coaching and skills event to mark the opening.

Mayor Alderman Drew Thompson said the new Synthetic Pitch facility was the cornerstone for the regeneration of the Park and a positive first step.

“It is great to see many young people enjoying a range of sports and sharing a common interest through sport. This is a significant investment in the city and a first step towards providing greater sporting opportunities in the area and creating new uses for St Columb’s Park”.

The investment and completion of the synthetic pitch has taken approximately twelve months from the announcement of the integrated masterplans for Ebrington, St Columb’s Park and Clooney. It will enhance the provision of leisure facilities in the area for young people and create new opportunities to participate in a range of sport.

Since the completion of the pitch in early autumn its benefits are evident in the local sporting community. The IFA soccer county centre of excellence, located at the park, operates a weekly programme and already has selected emerging local stars for the N. Ireland School Boy Squad U16 who played England in Blackpool in October 07. The Priorians Hockey pre-season tournament during September was also a success and helped set the scene for future competitions of this level in the city. Outreach programmes in soccer, active neighbourhood programmes for sport along with school use show a positive interest in the facility.

Derry City Council’s Director of Development, John Meehan said:

“This project begins to realise the potential for St Columb’s Park and create positive space for sport and community use. The benefits the investment will bring in matching talented youth with successful clubs and sporting programmes is welcomed”.

Notes to Editor

St Columb’s Park Regeneration Plan

The St Columb’s Park Masterplan was launched in October 2006 along with the Masterplans for Ebrington and Clooney. They brought a clarity of purpose and vision to the area with an aim to revitalise communities, renew facilities and help promote social inclusion.

St.Columb’s Park Masterplan aims to realise the potential for the park and includes proposals for landscape development, creation of play spaces for all ages and abilities, elite sport training and international competition facilities underpinned by community sport facilities. The proposals also maximise access, retain and promote heritage, tourism, educational and environmental resources in the Park.

A funding strategy is in place to maximise the opportunity for European funding for the project.

All enquiries relating to booking the pitch should be directed to St. Columb’s Park Leisure Centre - Tel 71 343941.

Ends

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