Riverine Community Park

This project  is supported by the European Union’s  PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)

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The Riverine Community Park project will see the creation of a new shared space which will reach across Lifford and Strabane, creating thirty acres of new cross-border community park space and infrastructure. Designed to help bring people together and encourage greater levels of positive cross-community contact.

€8,962,540.60 has been provided under the Shared Space objective of the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). This is broken down into €7,618,159.51 from the PEACE IV Programme with Government Match-Funding of €1,344,381.09 provided by the Department for Communities NI and the Department of Rural and Community Development Ireland.

The project is being jointly developed by Donegal County Council and Derry City & Strabane District Council and aims to transform two currently unused open natural spaces of 30 acres, linked by a pedestrian and cycle bridge across the River Foyle.

The vision is to create a neutral space which allows the whole community, regardless of age, race, religious background, or ability, to get active, develop new friendships, find new interests, create a positive, connected, and energized future.

The Riverine Community Park Project aims to address the impact of the conflict in the Lifford and Strabane area, and its hinterlands, by regenerating the border riverside area to create a cross-border community park straddling the River Foyle. It will be a shared space to bring communities together from both sides of the border, to re-connect and to form new, long-lasting connections and relationships.

Riverine will encompass a number of uniquely designed elements.

These elements will include:

• a pavilion building (for various cultural and heritage events);
• outdoor wetland and park space (for recreate and environmental educations activities)
• a family fun space (comprising of a toddler and junior adventure play area)
• a cross-border pathways and greenways (to accommodate leisure and recreation activities)
• a newly constructed pedestrian footbridge (that will symbolically connect the space across the River Foyle.)

Following its construction, the project will deliver upon a number of different programming activities to maximize its usage for all communities on both sides of the border.

Activities shall  include:

• a community heritage engagement programme
• a culture and peace activity trail
• a creative arts programme
• a shared space connections projects.

The project represents a strong working cross-border partnership between Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council. Both will be involved in the project’s construction, delivery and maintenance.