Mayor Maura Hickey joined by Claire Sugden in official openining of the Diversity Park

The park at Flowerfield Arts Centre Portstewarthas facilities for children with disabilities

The Diversity Park at Flowerfield has been open for use by the public since mid August.  However on Friday Mayor Maura Hickey gave the site its official opening.  The mayor was joined by Justice Minister and local MLA Claire Sugden and plenty of the public to officially welcome the new Diversity Park to the region

The park contains apparatus and facilities that can be used by children with disabilities such as a wheelchair swing, an aeroglider where children in wheelchairs can play with other children, a wheelchair roundabout and a 'sunken trampoline'.  The Mayor, who was was speaking to Denis McNeill on Q Cafe:North Coast praised the council's swift action in putting the park in place.

Maura Hickey speaks to Denis McNeill on Q Cafe North Coast:

"A need had been identified by a parent" said Ald Hickey "I have to say our council office were completely open to accommodate to her needs."  Mayor Hickey also praised the Council's accessibility in the issue. "It wasn't we can't do, it was we can do" said the mayor.

The mayor also refused to rule out more such parks in the area.  "That is certainly the plan" said the Mayor "we have to do an audit of the facilities, but this is certainly the template."

The park has been a great success with the public

More diversity parks should come as no surprise, with the site at Flowerfield proving such a hit with the public.  Q Cafe also spoke to several parents of children with special needs, who had nothing but praise for the park. Christine McClements was the first to suggest the idea of the park to the council, after seeing that there were no facilities in the area for her young daughter, Lilia.  

Christine McClements speaks to Denis McNeill on Q Cafe North Coast:

"We didn't want Lilia coming to the park and sitting on the sidelines" Said Christine "it was very frustrating, she is a child and she's entitled to an equal opportunity to play in a park."  Once Christine was made aware that there was apparatus available for children of all abilities, Christine approached the council and the council was more than enthusiastic about the idea.

Justice Minister Claire Sugden joins Maura Hickey for the opening

Christine is delighted with the outcome too, "It's been a great success for the whole community" said Christine "everyone is enjoying the chance to come to this fantastic park and play."  

Angela Cassidy reiterated those sentiments, with her son Patrick getting full use of the park.  "It's been fantastic I have three older children and while Patrick has special needs" said Angela "its always quite difficult to get a park that suits them all, and this park fills that need".

Angela Cassidy speaks to Denis McNeill on Q Cafe North Coast:

The Mayor Maura Hickey added that the success of the park is "a fitting tribute to the hard work and planning that has gone into the project."

Q Cafe's Denis McNeil with Christine McCandless and her daughter Graace