List of parks and gardens in Belfast

Belfast, Northern Ireland has over forty public parks. The Forest of Belfast is a partnership between government and local groups, set up in 1992 to manage and conserve the city's parks and open spaces. They have also commissioned more than 30 public sculptures since 1993.[1] In 2006, the City Council also set aside GB£8 million to continue this work.[2] The Belfast Naturalists' Field Club was founded in 1863 and is administered by National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland.[3]

One of the most popular parks[4] is Botanic Gardens in the Queen's Quarter. Built in the 1830s and designed by Sir Charles Lanyon, Botanic Gardens Palm House is one of the earliest examples of a curvilinear and cast iron glasshouse.[5] Attractions in the park also include the Tropical Ravine, a humid jungle glen built in 1889,[4] rose gardens and public events ranging from live opera broadcasts to pop concerts. U2 played here in 1997 and the Tennents Vital festival takes place in the gardens each summer.

Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, to the south of the city centre, attracts thousands of visitors each year to its International Rose Garden.[6] Rose Week in July each year boasts over 20,000 blooms.[7] It has an area of 128 acres (0.52 km2) of meadows, woodland and gardens and also features a Princess Diana Memorial Garden, a Japanese Garden, a walled garden, and the Golden Crown Fountain commissioned in 2002 as part of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.[6]

Woodvale Park is traditional City Park, which provides a range of passive and active recreation. The main facilities include Bowling Greens, Soccer pitches, a Kick about area and Play area. A network of paths through rolling lawns, shrubs borders and mature trees link these facilities. Historically Woodvale Park has been one of the main parks for the 26,000 people who make up the Greater Shankill area, due to regeneration in the area the population is increasing.

History

Woodvale Park became Belfast’s fourth public park when it opened in 1888. The land was bought by Belfast Corporation from Reverend Glover. He had lived in a house called Woodville that once stood in the park. The park was due to be called Shankill Park, but the name was changed to Woodvale at the last minute. The opening was set for 3.00pm on Saturday 18 August 1888. By 3.35pm the dignitaries had not turned up and so one of the rangers took the key admit the large crowd. The park included a large pond, which was used by local people in wintertime for skating. Cricket was first played in the park in1894, although the authorities were wary of possible injury to other park users. The pond was filled in after the Second World War and a children’s playground established in its place.

Full list

Name of park Location Notes
Alexandra Park near Antrim Road, north Belfast
Alderman Tommy Patton Memorial Park Inverary Avenue, Holywood Road, east Belfast Commonly known as Inverary Playing Fields[8]
Belfast Castle near Antrim Road, north Belfast
Barnett Demesne near Shaw's Bridge, south Belfast
Belmont Park Cairnburn Road, east Belfast Semi-wild[9]
Botanic Gardens University area, south Belfast Contains Palm House and Tropical Ravine[10] Botanic station.
Carnanmore Park near Stewartstown Road, south-west Belfast
Carmena Allen Memorial Park Braniel, east Belfast Better known as Braniel Park or sometimes Sam's Park
Carr's Glen Linear Park Ballysillan Road, north Belfast
Cavehill Country Park near Antrim Road, north Belfast Two time Green Flag Award winner[11]
City Hall Donegall Square, central Belfast
Clarawood Millennium Park near Knock Road, east Belfast
Clement Wilson Park Newforge Lane, south Belfast
Comber Greenway East Belfast to Comber Seven mile cycle route along path of a disused railway[12]
Dover Street Millennium Park near Shankill Road, west Belfast
Dr Pitt Memorial Park Newtownards Road, east Belfast
Drumglass Park Lisburn Road, south Belfast Also called Cranmore or Marlborough Park[13]
Dunville Park Falls Road, west Belfast
Falls Park Falls Road, west Belfast Facing Milltown cemetery[14]
Finlay Park Whitewell Road, north Belfast
Forthriver Park Ballygomartin Road, west Belfast
Gasworks Ormeau Road, south Belfast Business park[15]
Giant's Park Dargan Road, north-east Belfast Proposal for future park[16]
Giant's Ring Ballynahatty, south Belfast
Glenbank Park Ligoniel Road, north-west Belfast
Glencairn Park Glencairn Road, west Belfast
Greenville Park Grand Parade, Castlereagh Road, east Belfast
Grovelands Stockman's Lane, south-west Belfast
King William Park near Lisburn Road, south Belfast one of Belfast's smallest parks[17]
Knocknagoney Linear Park Holywood Road, east Belfast
Lagan Meadows along the River Lagan, south Belfast partial nature reserve[18]
Lenadoon Millennium Park near Stewartstown Road, west Belfast
Ligoniel Park Ligoniel Road, north-west Belfast
Loughside Park Shore Road, north Belfast
Marrowbone Millennium Park Oldpark Road, north Belfast
Michelle Baird Memorial Park Forthriver Road, west Belfast
Musgrave Park Stockman's Lane, south-west Belfast 2010 Green Flag Award winner[19]
Northwood Linear Park Shore Road, north Belfast
Orangefield Park Orangefield Lane, north Belfast
Ormeau Park Ormeau Road, south Belfast
Roddens Park Braniel, east Belfast Not to be confused with a nearby street with the same name
Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park Upper Malone Road, south Belfast Annual Rose Week every July[20]
Springhill Millennium Park Springhill Aveune, Springfield Road, west Belfast
Springfield Park Springfield Road, west Belfast
Victoria Park Park Avenue near Holywood Road, east Belfast Contains a lake[21] Near Sydenham station.
Waterworks between Antrim Road and Cavehill Road, north Belfast Former source of city's water supply[22]
Woodvale Park Woodvale Road, upper Shankill, north-west Belfast
Wedderburn Park near Lisburn Road, south Belfast Contains playing fields, bowling green and tennis courts[23]

See also

List of parks in Northern Ireland

References

  1. ↑ "Forest of Belfast". Belfast City Council. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  2. ↑ "Your City, Your Space". Belfast City Council. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  3. ↑ "About the Field Club". Belfast Naturalists' Field Club. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  4. 1 2 "Botanic Gardens". Belfast City Council. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  5. ↑ "Palm House Botanic Gardens, Belfast City". Houses, Castles and Gardens of Ireland. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  6. 1 2 "Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park and City of Belfast International Rose Garden". Go To Belfast. Archived from the original on 2007-04-30. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  7. ↑ "Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park". Discover Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  8. ↑ Alderman Tommy Patton Memorial Park
  9. ↑ Belmont Park
  10. ↑ Botanic Gardens
  11. ↑ Cave Hill Country Park
  12. ↑ The Comber Greenway
  13. ↑ Drumglass Park
  14. ↑ Falls Park
  15. ↑ Gasworks
  16. ↑ Giant's Park proposal
  17. ↑ King William Park
  18. ↑ Lagan Meadows
  19. ↑ Musgrave Park
  20. ↑ Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park
  21. ↑ Victoria Park
  22. ↑ Waterworks
  23. ↑ Wedderburn Park

External links

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