£130k investment to secure new play park at Eden

Residents of Eden village and surrounding areas are set to benefit from the long-awaited facility at Eden Primary after £130,000 of funding from the council was confirmed.

The agreement was due to be officially sealed at a meeting of the local authority on Monday evening.

Carrickfergus DUP Councillor Cheryl Brownlee, who has been campaigning for the new play park, said: “I am absolutely delighted to see this project now come to fruition as Council secure this investment for Eden.

“This project is one which I have been passionate about since first being elected to the council in 2014 and I have campaigned tirelessly from then.

“There has always been a lack of play park provision in this area which is particularly worrying given the high number of families and children in the area. 

“This will make a huge and positive difference for all involved.”

The campaign for a play park in Eden dates back several years.

In 2015, a petition for such a facility set up by two local schoolgirls attracted hundreds of signatures.  

A council report at the time stated that the Eden area had the highest number of 0-15 year olds across the borough. 

Meanwhile, the borough council has also given a commitment over a replacement playground for the Castlemara estate in Carrickfergus during 2021/22.

An upgrade of Legg Park in Carrick town centre was completed earlier this year.

Michelle Weir , Local Democracy Reporting Service