Celebrating completion of Ballymoney’s Riverside Park

There was a fantastic family atmosphere at the new “urban linear park” with entertainment by local bands on the stage and activities for children including face painting, balloon modelling and walkabout characters.

The event marked the completion of improvements to the town’s pleasant urban linear park.

Works on the project – right in the heart of Ballymoney – included a river restoration scheme, refurbishment of the play park, amenity block, car park and toilets, resurfacing of the riverside path, and the creation of a natural wetland floodplain habitat… with water loving plants, wild flowers and native shrubs, encouraging bees, butterflies and dragonflies.

The 40 acre park also includes riverside walks, cycle path, ducks and picnic areas and an urban greenway, linking the park to the town centre.

The declaration of Ballymoney Riverside Park as a Local Nature Reserve has been endorsed by The Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside.

The river restoration element of the project - returning the lake on the Ballymoney River to its original route - was delivered by investment from Council, DARD Rivers Agency and DCAL Inland Waterways and Fisheries.

Saturday’s event was promoted by Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council, supported by Q Radio and marked the day the Mayor’s Show would have previously taken place in Ballymoney.