Limited Outdoor Spaces in Strabane
Like many parents, Chloe McDevitt and Joanne Murray wish they could simply step outside with their children and enjoy a local park for fresh air and playtime. However, their hometown of Strabane lacks suitable green spaces for such activities.
Strabane, one of the largest towns in County Tyrone with a population of approximately 14,000, has a scarcity of large parks. This shortage often compels parents to drive to nearby towns such as Omagh or even Letterkenny in County Donegal to find outdoor areas for their children.
That situation may soon improve with plans to begin construction later this year on a long-delayed, multi-million pound park. The development, known as the Riverine Project, will connect Strabane and Lifford, extending across the River Foyle into the Republic of Ireland.
Originally proposed in 2012, the Riverine Project was officially launched in January of this year after securing new EU funding amounting to €16.7 million (£14.5 million). The initiative includes family-friendly zones, a pavilion for cultural events, and new parks and greenways.
'Nothing on Your Doorstep'
For Chloe, the announcement of the Riverine Project comes at a critical time.
"I think there is a presence of mums, especially in Strabane, online that really fight for things for their kids to do in the town,"
she said.
"If this was to make it, I feel like people would back it."
Chloe also noted that plans for a new skate park in Strabane have faced opposition from local residents, with a petition against the proposals launched in January.
"I know there was controversy on that and people not wanting it,"
she explained.
"But I mean what is there for young people in Strabane? There's not much."
Joanne shared her perspective, saying that on sunny days she often takes her daughter outside Strabane to places like Gortin Glens near Omagh or Derry.
"I feel for anybody that can't drive, there's nothing really on your doorstep in this area,"
she said.
Although her daughter is only seven months old, Joanne anticipates that the limited resources for children's activities will become more apparent as her child grows.
"Anything that there is, it is booked up or you have to pay,"
she added.
Regarding walking routes within the town, Joanne mentioned that locals often use the bypass, but this is not ideal for walking with a baby due to car fumes, noise, and heavy traffic.
"There's nowhere really off road that you could just go, like a green space,"
she said.
Chloe also linked the lack of outdoor facilities to issues of anti-social behaviour.
She described incidents where young people threw rubbish into her garden and hit her with water balloons.
"Riverine would be a good way to get young people off the streets,"
Chloe said.
Strabane and Lifford’s Riverine Project
Barney Harte, a Sinn Féin councillor who previously chaired the Riverine Community Forum in 2020, is familiar with the project's history and challenges.
He acknowledged that some people remain sceptical about whether the project will come to fruition but emphasized that the recent launch is a positive development.
"I could understand people's scepticism"
he said,
"but the recent launch should be viewed as positive."
The project was first proposed in 2012 but encountered setbacks in 2013 when funding was withdrawn after the Irish government did not provide match funding. A renewed EU funding application failed in 2018, and the planning application expired in 2023, causing further delays.
'I'd Have to See It to Believe It'
Fergus Martin, a resident of Lifford, remains doubtful about the project's progress.
"It's one of those things where I'd have to see it to believe it. There's always talk of these things happening, but nothing ever gets done in the end."
He added,
"It'd be great for the community if it went ahead."
Timeline for Construction
Barney Harte indicated that tenders for the Riverine Project are scheduled to be issued in April, with construction expected to commence in September.
"I think when people see those diggers on site, that's when they'll be confident that things will move at pace,"
he said.
Donegal County Council confirmed that detailed design work is progressing well.
The £14.5 million funding was provided by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) through the Peaceplus initiative.
At the official project launch in January, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons praised the collaborative efforts of both councils.
