Donegal County Council as Lead Partner and Derry City & Strabane District Council as Project Partner have prioritised the submission of a funding application for consideration under the PEACEPLUS Programme for the delivery of the Riverine Community Park Project.
The application was made under Investment Area 1.4 Re-Imaging Communities, which is a programme of transformative reimaging projects that will create a more cohesive society through an increased provision of shared space and services to embed peace and prosperity.
It will result in an increase in the number of individuals and groups regularly accessing new shared spaces, which have been co-designed on a cross-community basis; and spending recreational time or accessing services therein.
The total budget available under Investment Area 1.4 Re-Imaging Communities is €75m. It is envisaged this investment area will fund 10 transformative projects, up to a maximum award to any one project set at €15m.
Fully committed to the delivery of a new shared space linking the communities of Lifford and Strabane, Donegal County Council and Derry City & Strabane District Council have collaborated over the past number of months to prepare and finalise the funding application for the significant cross border and cross community project.
The Riverine project proposes a new cross border public park of regional significance with provision for an outdoor public events space, community building and play experience, environmental features, shared walkways, river access and parking.
The park on the Lifford side will be a designed landscape incorporating indoor and outdoor recreational features.
This will be complemented on the Strabane side with recreation and environmental education and conservation activities.
Spanning both sides of the River Foyle the shared space will be uniquely connected through the creation of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge, as a symbolic link in connecting the communities of Strabane, Lifford and their wider hinterlands and representing a prominent physical symbol of a changing society.
The project also includes innovative activity programmes as an opportunity for sustained engagement in activities of common interest. This new community asset along with the activity programmes which will be delivered through it, will facilitate cross community and cross border connections and encourage greater interaction, positively impacting on peace and prosperity.
The application for the Riverine Community Park Project was submitted to the PEACEPLUS Programme by the closing date on 7 September 2023. The overall cost of the Project now stands at €14.9m, reflecting the increased construction, inflation and other costs.
It is understood that following the assessment of all applications received under Investment Area 1.4, the SEUPB will communicate the outcome to applicants in Q1 2024.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)