Oxford Island Play Area

Overview

In March 2017 Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council developed a Play Strategy to establish a strategic framework within which all decision-making as it relates to the provision of fixed play and the development of non-fixed play can take place. 

At its core, the Play Strategy acknowledges that play is a natural and fundamental aspect of children and young people’s lives that supports growth and development across a range of developmental areas including:

• Physical and mental health and wellbeing
• Social development
• Intellectual growth and learning
• Practical skills development
• Personal resilience
•  Establishing a connection to wider society and the community in which children live.

In developing the play strategy Council commissioned PlayBoard NI to undertake a number of key pieces of work including:

• The completion of a play value audit of all existing fixed play areas across the borough to identify those that offer limited play value and require remedial action to enhance their play value.

• Completion of an evaluation of underlying demographic need and settlement patterns to identify potential gap areas that may require the development of fixed play provision over the duration of the strategy, and

• An assessment of underlying demographic need and settlement patterns in areas of existing fixed play provision to identify potentially redundant fixed play areas that are no longer required.

Following completion of this work Council have established a capital works programme for the coming 5 year period (2018 to 2023) aimed at enhancing play value in those fixed play areas in most need, filling geographical gaps in provision and removing redundant fixed play areas and transforming the resultant sites for community use.

Why your views matter

As part of Council’s Capital Play Development Programme the play park in Oxford Island has been designated for refurbishment, with an investment of £250,000.00.

Council would like to hear your views on the proposed play park at Oxford Island. 

Under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Rural Need Act 2016 and as part of this consultation we would like to ensure that you/your organisation has every opportunity to express its view.

What happens next

After considering the questions asked during the survey Play Development have developed an updated design. 

Play development are also currently replying individually to responses received