Balcurris Park to receive significant upgrade through the Sláintecare Healthy Communities

The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, has confirmed that Balcurris Park is to receive a significant upgrade through the Sláintecare Healthy Communities.

Welcoming the news local Fianna Fáil T.D Paul McAuliffe said: "In 2019 Jamie Harrington and I were knocking on doors in Balcurris, and we got loads of complaints about the state of the playground, which was covered in glass. This area has been long forgotten and I’m delighted this morning that the Minister has announced funding to be put in place. This very welcome funding will see a significant improvement in the park for all of the community to enjoy"

Balcurris Park is considered to be underutilised. DCC Housing and Community Services together with DCC Parks, Biodiversity and Landscape Services are developing plans with a newly formed local committee to advance a new community garden space in the park environs and provide new recreational facilities. The sought after outcomes are to:

· Increase overall access to and promote use of Balcurris Park through the potential provision of new trails, walkways and natural play areas that support community healthy place making and wellbeing.

· Install new recreational outdoor gym equipment that promotes health and fitness and delivers positive health impacts to benefit the local community; and,

· In collaboration with the Ballymun Health and Fitness Initiative and DCC Sports Health and Wellbeing Partnership, promote and market awareness of the new Community Garden space and outdoor gym facilities, including mentoring and coaching.