COLIN Glen Forest Park is set to benefit from £2.5 million worth of funding from Belfast City Council as part of its £6 million masterplan.
Plans to build an outdoor pursuit centre, mountain bike trail, alpine ride and camping site are part of the park’s extensive plans to make it a leading tourist attraction in West Belfast.
Colin Glen Trust CEO Colin O’Neill said he was “delighted” to receive the news that Belfast City Council will be supporting the development of the Colin Glen Forest Park and Colin Park.
“For several years Colin Glen Trust has had its funding cut to a point where it is looking like it will lose all revenue funding from April onwards. As such we have continually looked at being able to generate our own revenue and in December 2014 we revealed our masterplan, which included additional attractions and facilities with the two parks and ultimately a new visitors centre within the park,” he said. “We believe that this funding will help us deliver a significant part of this vision, achieve self sufficiency and allow us to provide jobs, improve facilities, protect the Forest Park and attract even more visitors to the area.”
Chair of Belfast City Council’s Action Working Group (AWG) Stephen Magennis praised the Council’s delivery in the Colin area.
“We have seen massive changes in the area since we moved to Belfast Council,” he said.
“We are delighted with Council’s investment to Colin Glen Forest Park. This funding will go towards an exciting series of plans that will ultimately make the park self-sustainable and create an outdoor pursuit centre for families and school children, basically on their West Belfast doorstep.
“We are also delighted to announce that £45,000 worth of funding will be split between St Luke’s Nursery Group, Saints Youth Club and Colin Valley Football Club with each receiving £15,000 each from Council.
