THE recently regenerated Brooke Park received a major honour at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) 2017 Awards, securing the Highly Commended title in the Community Benefit award at the awards ceremony held in Belfast.
Derry City and Strabane District Council undertook a major capital development project on Brooke Park, which was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Department for Communities.
In September 2016 the park was unveiled to the public following a spectacular £5.6m regeneration project that transformed the historic site.
The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Maolíosa McHugh said he was delighted to see the hard work of the many involved in developing the park recognised, he added:
“One of the main aims in regenerating Brooke Park was to create a space that would benefit the community. I am delighted that this has been recognised with this highly commended achievement.
“I want to thank everyone who has supported the project, including our local residents, users, Council staff and the development team including, MWA Landscape Architects, Sammon Chartered Surveyors, Hamilton Architects and Woodvale Construction Company for their dedication and work on the project.”
Mukesh Sharma, Member of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s NI Committee added their congratulations.
“We were delighted to hear about this RISC commendation for the Brooke Park restoration project and the team who helped make it happen.
“The historic park is once again looking fantastic and providing much needed green space which is being enjoyed by residents and visitors to the City.
“Well done to everyone involved and thanks also to National Lottery players who make these projects possible through the good causes funding.”
The RICS Awards 2017, celebrated the region’s most inspirational initiatives and developments in land, property, construction and the environment.
The regeneration of Brooke Park includes the building of Gwyn’s Café & Pavilion on site of the former Gwyn’s Institute the restoration of the Brooke Park Portico Lodge and the Victorian Oval Pond.
The scheme included a new play garden, a walled garden, a Horticulture and Environment Training Centre, a new contact sport centre, synthetic pitch and the restoration of the historic landscape.
Known as the ‘People’s Park’, the works has restored the park to its former Victorian magnificence, cementing its place in local history and is now open for use to the public and sits as one of the city’s finest visitor attractions.
For further details on the regeneration of Brooke Park and its history, visit www.derrystrabane.com.
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