Work set to begin on £295,000 playpark for Newtown

WORK to provide a new playpark for children in Newtownstewart will get underway next month.

The £295,000 development has been in the pipeline for a number of years. Plans for the park were announced as far back as 2014. Work was expected to commence in October last year but was delayed until the new year.

This week Sinn Féin councillor Kieran McGuire announced work will commence on February 17.

The playpark will include zip lines, swings and roundabouts and will be on lands adjacent to Mourne Park and Mourne Walk.
Welcoming confirmation of the work Cllr McGuire also payed tribute to Newtownstewart woman Amanda McConomy, who played a pivotal role in getting the project off its feet.

Amanda has been campaigning for a children’s play area for the village since the death of her eight-year-old sister Nicole McConomy in a sewage plant accident in 1994. Amanda believes the accident could have been avoided if facilities for children to play in were available in the area.

Cllr McGuire added, “With work on the ground commencing the sterling efforts of local community to secure this facility is at last coming to fruition.

“I would like to pay particular tribute to local woman Amanda McConomy who has been to the fore of the campaign to secure this facility for Newtownstewart,” he added.