By Alan Healy
A new disabled play area will finally open at Brooke Park in the Spring of next year after contractors began installing the equipment on site this week.
The move comes after a long campaign by families of disabled children, who, backed by local councillors and community lobbied for over a year to have the new equipment installed.
When the new-look Brooke Park first opened to the public in September of last year after a £6m revamp, Derry City and Strabane District Council had initially said there were no plans for installing wheelchair-friendly equipment at the park.
This resulted in an outcry among parents of disabled children from the surrounding area in who launched a campaign to have a wheelchair friendly swing installed at the park, given that the nearest play park which caters for disabled children is located in Portstewart.
The council then agreed to install a new disabled-friendly play area, to include a wheelchair-friendly swing, a wheelchair see-saw and carousel, and a hexagonal rocking plate.
Work began on installing the equipment earlier this week, where contractors from Allplay Ireland Ltd arrived at Brooke Park to begin the process.
Speaking to the Derry News, Lena McCaughey whose young son John suffers from cerebral palsy, said that she and other parents involved in the campaign were both ‘delighted and relieved’ to see the installation work begin.
“It’s been a long process, so we’re delighted to see the equipment finally being put in,” she told the Derry News.
“We’re relieved too because it seemed that the start date was constantly being put off, but now that it’s finally going in we know that it’s going to be there for the children come the Spring.”
'Patience'
Meanwhile, the independent councillor for the area, Darren O’Reilly paid tribute to the ‘patience and determination’ of the parents involved in the campaign.
“This is going to be a huge asset to the park, and will be used by people from across the council area,” he said.
“The hard work, patience and determination of the parents had paid off here, and I believe that this was an example of the community coming together.”
Cllr O’Reilly added: “However, I think that lesson needs to be learned here, in that council should incorporate facilities like these into all its new parks from the outset, and it shouldn’t be am afterthought.”
A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council confirmed that the new facilities will open in Spring 2018.
“We are delighted that four new pieces of wheelchair-friendly play equipment have arrived and that the contractor – Allplay Ireland Ltd – is currently on site, landscaping, assembling and installing the new play equipment,” the spokesperson said.
“The work is due to be completed in the coming weeks and will be opening to the public in the Spring.”
Derry City and Strabane District Council had initially said there were no plans for installing wheelchair friendly equipment at the park, which opened in September last year following a £6m revamp of the historic site in Rosemount.
That led to anger among parents of disabled children from the surrounding who launched a campaign to have a wheelchair friendly swing installed at the park, given that the nearest play park which caters for disabled children is located in Portstewart.
A Council spokesperson said: “We are delighted that four new pieces of wheelchair-friendly play equipment have arrived and that the contractor – Allplay Ireland Ltd – is currently on site, landscaping, assembling and installing the new play equipment.
“The work is due to be completed in the coming weeks and will be opening to the public in the spring.”
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