By Julie Waters
LARGE rollercoaster rides, a new Pickie Puffer train and a wet play zone were just some of the proposed features unveiled in the latest £3.4million seafront fun park consultation.
Currently boastsing a maritime themed mini golf course, splash pads, a play park and the much loved swan paddle boats, the multi-million pound revamp, due to begin in 2027, aims to attract more visitors to Pickie Fun Park and the borough all year round.
With the works set to be completed by 2028, the proposals include a new main entrance, an extended cafe, a wet play zone and lagoon, an events and nature area, the new Pickie Puffer locomotive with a looped track, Northern Ireland landmark themed mini golf and amusement attractions.
Thrillseekers will be able to enjoy a large scale pirate ship swing boat set to reach 14 metres in height, a race coaster and a log flume – all located on the current play park site, which will be removed.
With Pickie set to lose its current free children’s play park, a new £1 million play park is set to be included in the £14 million Marine Gardens regeneration scheme, at the western end of the five hectare site.
The more indepth Pickie Fun Park proposals, covering seven separate areas, were revealed at the council’s pre- application community consultation event (PACC), held recently at Bangor’s Carnegie Library.
The PACC stage of the planning process was held to ensure that local people have an opportunity to view proposals and provide feedback before the formal planning application is submitted.
Mayor Gillian McCollum praised the ‘good’ number of people who attended the consultation, saying: “I am delighted that the families and people of Bangor have come out in good numbers to show support for the Pickie Park redevelopment proposals.
She said: “It is really important to us that we receive meaningful and detailed feedback, we want this park to be everyone’s park. We want the park to retain its special character and its well deserved place in the affection of the borough.”
Steve Ferguson, council’s acting head of capital projects, said the council were keen to take on board any feedback from the public ahead of any planning application being lodged.
According to the plans, one of the park’s favourite attractions, the mini golf, is set to be updated with a new Northern Ireland landmark theme; there will also be a new electric Pickie Puffer locomotive with an extended looped track.
The new train system will be on a larger gauged track, moving from71/4inchtoa101/4inch rail, and the four carriages will be able carry more passengers, reducing queueing during peak periods.
The park’s new main entrance will include a ticketing kiosk, which would be in the same hexagonal shapes as the distinctive sandcastles at the front of the park.
The entrance is set to boast new seating, with the current timber planters being replaced to tie in with the proposed public realm works; there will also be a new cycle rack provision and a refreshments kiosk.
The cafe extension is set to facilitate evening events and enhanced dining; with the wet play zone set to welcome new equipment and changing facilities as well as a secure enclosure.
The proposals include new swans for the lagoon, as well as seasonal programming and seating areas.
The plans showed the wet play zone would boast new equipment, changing facilities as well as a secure enclosure; the lagoon area is to be refreshed with new Pickie swans and enhanced landscaping.
The area behind the park’s current toilet block, which are due to be refurbished, will be transformed into a nature area, with an events space to host seasonal events and private functions.
The Pickie redevelopment scheme is one of five projects set to regenerate a 2.2km stretch of coastline from Skippingstone Beach to Ballyholme as part of the £72 million Bangor Waterfront redevelopment scheme.
Separate from the Queen’s Parade redevelopment, the Bangor Waterfront’s four other projects include an urban waterfront public realm development, Ballyholme Yacht Club, the Court House Phase II and Bangor Marina.
