List of parks and gardens in Belfast

Belfast, Northern Ireland has over forty public parks. The Forest of Belfast is a partnership between government and local groups, set up in 1992 to manage and conserve the city's parks and open spaces. They have also commissioned more than 30 public sculptures since 1993.[1] In 2006, the City Council also set aside GB£8 million to continue this work.[2] The Belfast Naturalists' Field Club was founded in 1863 and is administered by National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland.[3]

One of the most popular parks[4] is Botanic Gardens in the Queen's Quarter. Built in the 1830s and designed by Sir Charles Lanyon, Botanic Gardens Palm House is one of the earliest examples of a curvilinear and cast iron glasshouse.[5] Attractions in the park also include the Tropical Ravine, a humid jungle glen built in 1889,[4] rose gardens and public events ranging from live opera broadcasts to pop concerts. U2 played here in 1997 and the Tennents Vital festival takes place in the gardens each summer.

Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, to the south of the city centre, attracts thousands of visitors each year to its International Rose Garden.[6] Rose Week in July each year boasts over 20,000 blooms.[7] It has an area of 128 acres (0.52 km2) of meadows, woodland and gardens and also features a Princess Diana Memorial Garden, a Japanese Garden, a walled garden, and the Golden Crown Fountain commissioned in 2002 as part of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.[6]

Woodvale Park is traditional City Park, which provides a range of passive and active recreation. The main facilities include Bowling Greens, Soccer pitches, a Kick about area and Play area. A network of paths through rolling lawns, shrubs borders and mature trees link these facilities. Historically Woodvale Park has been one of the main parks for the 26,000 people who make up the Greater Shankill area, due to regeneration in the area the population is increasing.

History

Woodvale Park became Belfast’s fourth public park when it opened in 1888. The land was bought by Belfast Corporation from Reverend Glover. He had lived in a house called Woodville that once stood in the park. The park was due to be called Shankill Park, but the name was changed to Woodvale at the last minute. The opening was set for 3.00pm on Saturday 18 August 1888. By 3.35pm the dignitaries had not turned up and so one of the rangers took the key admit the large crowd. The park included a large pond, which was used by local people in wintertime for skating. Cricket was first played in the park in 1894, although the authorities were wary of possible injury to other park users. The pond was filled in after the Second World War and a children’s playground established in its place.

Full list

Name of parkLocationNotes
Alexandra Parknear Antrim Road, north Belfast
Alderman Tommy Patton Memorial ParkInverary Avenue, Holywood Road, east BelfastCommonly known as Inverary Playing Fields[8]
Belfast Castlenear Antrim Road, north Belfast
Barnett Demesnenear Shaw's Bridge, south Belfast
Belmont ParkCairnburn Road, east BelfastSemi-wild[9]
Botanic GardensUniversity area, south BelfastContains Palm House and Tropical Ravine[10] Botanic station.
Carnanmore Parknear Stewartstown Road, south-west Belfast
Carmena Allen Memorial ParkBraniel, east BelfastBetter known as Braniel Park or sometimes Sam's Park
Carr's Glen Linear ParkBallysillan Road, north Belfast
Cavehill Country Parknear Antrim Road, north BelfastTwo time Green Flag Award winner[11]
City HallDonegall Square, central Belfast
Clarawood Millennium Parknear Knock Road, east Belfast
Clement Wilson ParkNewforge Lane, south Belfast
Comber GreenwayEast Belfast to ComberSeven mile cycle route along path of a disused railway[12]
Dover Street Millennium Parknear Shankill Road, west Belfast
Dr Pitt Memorial ParkNewtownards Road, east Belfast
Drumglass ParkLisburn Road, south BelfastAlso called Cranmore or Marlborough Park[13]
Dunville ParkFalls Road, west Belfast
Falls ParkFalls Road, west BelfastFacing Milltown cemetery[14]
Finlay ParkWhitewell Road, north Belfast
Forthriver ParkBallygomartin Road, west Belfast
GasworksOrmeau Road, south BelfastBusiness park[15]
Giant's ParkDargan Road, north-east BelfastProposal for future park[16]
Giant's RingBallynahatty, south Belfast
Glenbank ParkLigoniel Road, north-west Belfast
Glencairn ParkGlencairn Road, west Belfast
Greenville ParkGrand Parade, Castlereagh Road, east Belfast
GrovelandsStockman's Lane, south-west Belfast
King William Parknear Lisburn Road, south Belfastone of Belfast's smallest parks[17]
Knocknagoney Linear ParkHolywood Road, east Belfast
Lagan Meadowsalong the River Lagan, south Belfastpartial nature reserve[18]
Lenadoon Millennium Parknear Stewartstown Road, west Belfast
Ligoniel ParkLigoniel Road, north-west Belfast
Loughside ParkShore Road, north Belfast
Marrowbone Millennium ParkOldpark Road, north Belfast
Michelle Baird Memorial ParkForthriver Road, west Belfast
Musgrave ParkStockman's Lane, south-west Belfast2010 Green Flag Award winner[19]
Northwood Linear ParkShore Road, north Belfast
Orangefield ParkOrangefield Lane, north Belfast
Ormeau ParkOrmeau Road, south Belfast
Roddens ParkBraniel, east BelfastNot to be confused with a nearby street with the same name
Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon ParkUpper Malone Road, south BelfastAnnual Rose Week every July[20]
Springhill Millennium ParkSpringhill Avenue, Springfield Road, west Belfast
Springfield ParkSpringfield Road, west Belfast
Victoria ParkPark Avenue near Holywood Road, east BelfastContains a lake[21] Near Sydenham station.
Waterworksbetween Antrim Road and Cavehill Road, north BelfastFormer source of city's water supply[22]
Woodvale ParkWoodvale Road, upper Shankill, north-west Belfast
Wedderburn Parknear Lisburn Road, south BelfastContains playing fields, bowling green and tennis courts[23]

See also

References

  1. "Forest of Belfast". Belfast City Council. Archived from the original on 2007-02-08. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  2. "Your City, Your Space" (PDF). Belfast City Council. Archived from the original on 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  3. "About the Field Club". Belfast Naturalists' Field Club. Archived from the original on 2003-04-22. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  4. "Botanic Gardens". Belfast City Council. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  5. "Palm House Botanic Gardens, Belfast City". Houses, Castles and Gardens of Ireland. Archived from the original on 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  6. "Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park and City of Belfast International Rose Garden". Go To Belfast. Archived from the original on 2007-04-30. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  7. "Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park". Discover Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  8. Alderman Tommy Patton Memorial Park Archived 2012-03-22 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Belmont Park
  10. Botanic Gardens
  11. Cave Hill Country Park
  12. The Comber Greenway Archived 2010-12-31 at the Wayback Machine
  13. Drumglass Park
  14. Falls Park
  15. Gasworks
  16. Giant's Park proposal Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
  17. King William Park
  18. Lagan Meadows
  19. Musgrave Park
  20. Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park
  21. Victoria Park
  22. Waterworks
  23. Wedderburn Park
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