THE Falls Park has been awarded a coveted Green Flag for the second year running. The hard work of park manager Michael Culbert and his team has paid off once again as the Falls Road’s green lung was recognised again in the Belfast City Council initiative.
Cairde Páirc na bhFál (Friends of Falls Park) member Aidan Crean told the Andersonstown News that the Park intends to build on their success and “go for the hat-trick next year”.
“There is an excellent staff here working hard to ensure that the park is something for the community and visitors to be proud of,” he said. “We have the Féile Marquee here from this week and this in itself is a testament to the standard of this park. We will be building on all our recent success and going forward to next year. There is a brilliant energy about the park and I just want to say a massive congratulations to Mick and his staff for the excellent work that they carry out here on a daily basis.”
Sinn Féin Councillor Caoimhín Mac Giolla Mhín praised the work of all those involved in winning Green Flag status for the park for the second year in a row.
“This once again is a wonderful achievement and to secure this status two years in a row shows that the hard work is paying off,” he said. “We have seen a complete turnaround in this park and all credit must go the park staff and the Cairde Páirc na bhFál group who have a real sense of pride in their local park.
“So much hard work has taken place over the past few years at a strategic level involving the local West Belfast Community Safety Forum, senior park officials and local neighbourhood police, to reclaim this wonderful public space.”
Cllr Mac Giolla Mhín said the hard work is encouraging wider community use of the Falls Park.
“As a member of the Parks and Leisure Committee, it was music to my ears to hear that other parks around the city have also attained this Green Flag status.
“It is crucial that all parks across the city share models of good practice and are given adequate resources to enhance their facilities.
“We are planning for a major investment in the Falls Park in the months ahead with a new state-of-the-art 3G pitch with floodlighting and new changing facilities as well as the installation of outdoor gym equipment,” he added.
