DERRY City and Strabane District Council, through its Parks Management and Development programme, has officially opened a new jogging trail at Leafair in Shantallow.
The trail, which will be floodlit at night and circles the existing grass football pitch at the site, aims to give the public a safe place to walk and jog at any time of day.
The project has been jointly funded by Council, the Department for Communities and the Northside Development Trust and is the latest addition to the recreation facilities at the Leafair site that include synthetic and grass playing pitches, a play area and an outdoor gym.
Speaking at Wednesday’s opening ceremony, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Hilary McClintock, said the trail will offer local residents further incentive to get outdoors and be active.
“I was delighted to perform the official opening of the Leafair Jogging Trail which is an exciting development for the Shantallow area and a significant addition to the existing recreation and leisure facilities at the Leafair site.
“The trail is beautifully located on elevated ground with stunning panoramic views of the city and is the perfect location to go for a walk or jog, offering the added safety of floodlights on dark nights.
“This project continues Council’s commitment to offer the public safe environments to fulfil their fitness goals and to encourage healthy choices by taking regular exercise.”
Peter McDonald, Co-ordinator of the Leafair Community Association, said the addition of the track will help further their vision of creating a “one stop shop” for local people to improve their fitness at the site.
“The jogging trail is another add on to the already great facilities that we have in Leafair,” he said.
“It will be a particularly useful tool for local sports groups to train on but it’s a facility that the whole community will have access to and get value from.
“As an association we are keen to promote the health and wellbeing of the people who live within the area and we hope this track will be an added incentive for people to exercise regularly.
“With an outdoor gym already in place the site is well on its way to becoming a one stop shop for people to work towards their fitness goals.”
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