Special report by Julie Waters
PLANS to transform Bangor’s historic Ward Park with a £5.5m redevelopment project are set to begin next year.
Now 115 years old and hailed as a ‘jewel’ in the city’s crown, the council hopes to have diggers on the 37-acre site after the summer season in 2025.
News of a start date for the proposed work emerged as the local authority urged residents to attend a public information event for the Ward Park environmental scheme at Bangor’s Carnegie Library on Saturday, April 20.
Residents and park users will have the chance to meet with council officers, architects and consultants, to learn more about the scheme and to have their say from 10.30am to 3.30pm.
The council funded scheme aims to improve the current pond structure, retain historical features, create educational and play opportunities whilst promoting biodiversity and managing the wildfowl and waterfowl.
Once the work begin, it is expected the scheme will take a further year to complete and will include the enlarging of the upper pond and island and upgrading the footpath network.
There will also be boardwalks and decking installed to the ponds, the replacement of two pedestrian bridges and existing bird enclosures, new street furniture, lighting and planting.
Discussions about improving the park first began nearly a decade ago back in 2015 and the latest application was finally approved by planners in April 2021.
After a number of delays due to poor weather, desilting work has been ongoing along the park’s chain of three ponds since January this year, in the first phase of the long awaited facelift.
Desilting or dredging, involves the removal of sediment from the ponds, which has reduced the depth of the waters in some locations and adversely impacted local birdlife.
The historic park is popular with young and older residents and boasts a range of historic features including the war memorial, the bandstand and the ‘big gun’ taken from a World War I German submarine which is dedicated to Bangor’s Victoria Cross recipient Barry Bingham.
Nestled next to the public library, the park boasts a variety of mature trees, as well as tennis courts and bowling greens. It hosts a series of live music events at the bandstand as part of the summer festival as well as regular park runs.
Jacqueline Harte, council communications manager, explained the aim of the work is to restore the ponds to their original capacity and enhance biodiversity, safeguarding the park for future generations to enjoy.
She explained the park’s use had evolved in recent years. “In the middle of the city is this green space that was built in 1909 and it has retained its character, its planting and its use,” she said.
“During Covid people loved the fact they had somewhere to go and what we want to do is enhance the environmental aspects, increasing the biodiversity while retaining the park’s heritage.”
She encouraged local people and park users to go along to the public engagement session or make their views known on the council’s online engagement platform Citizen Lab.
Said Ms Harte: “We are keen to hear from people who come and use Ward Park, who come to the live music events in the summer, who made use of the park during Covid or who maybe just pop into the park. You don’t have to be a Bangor resident, we are keen to hear from everyone.
“We encourage everyone to come along as we will have consultants, architects and council officers there. It is important to have these conversations face to face. I am really excited about the project.”
Readers can log on to: Public participation platform of Ards and North Down Borough Council | CitizenLab to access the council’s Citizens Lab, an online engagement platform where members of the public can propose ideas, share comments, respond to surveys and express their views on new projects.
