By Julie Waters
PICKIE Fun Park will close its doors for a year to allow the £3.4m transformation to take place, with a reopening date set for early 2028.
Plans for the new Pickie Fun Park were unveiled at a public information session, held last weekend, at Bangor Library.
Construction work is set to begin in 2027 and will include a new main entrance, an extended cafe, a new wet play zone, a revamped lagoon, a new nature area, a new look Pickie Puffer train and new mini golf.
The wet play zone will include play equipment, including a climbing frame and slides in the shape of a ship, with new changing facilities and a secure enclosure around the play area.
Plans for the lagoon include events and seasonal programming such ‘Winter Lights on Water’ with projected displays and floating Christmas trees. There will also be enhanced accessibility with improved seating around the lagoon edge.
The proposed events and nature space will transform a currently used area in the park beside the toilet blocks, and will include forest play, wooden arches, sculptures, climbing facilities and a seating area.
It is proposed the nature space could also be used for seasonal events, such as at Halloween and Christmas, as well as private functions.
Attractions currently offered at the park are set to get a welcome boost, with a new Pickie Puffer train and an updated track layout. The new rides, such as a family coaster, teacups, a water flume and pirate ship are set to attract a wider age range of children.
The 18-hole mini golf course is set to be reconfigured and updated with a new Northern Ireland theme. Each hole will feature a well-known beauty spot including Helen’s Tower and Donaghadee lighthouse.
Eddie Abraham, project manager with McAdam, the integrated design consultancy team, explained the inspiration behind the new park plans.
“Our design is an enhancement of all the existing infrastructure with the addition of new attractions and features, such as the woodland trail, the new events space and the cafe extension,” he said. “There are also enhancements to the crazy golf and the new Pickie Puffer train.”
The project manager said the proposals had been well received: “The feedback has been really well received, there have been a few queries about car parking but other than that it has been brilliant.”
