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Date: 2 April 2026
Two revamped playgrounds are ready for play this Easter, following improvement works by Belfast City Council. White Rise and Ohio Street playgrounds have both been transformed through this year’s £580,000 Playground Improvement Programme and are now open for use to children and families, while works are currently progressing at Finvoy Street and are due to commence soon at Roddens Crescent.
White Rise, at Lagmore, features a varied selection of fun play equipment which provides lots of different play opportunities for children of all ages and abilities, alongside new safety surfacing, fencing and landscaping. The inclusion of sensory-friendly acoustic equipment, a communication panel and wheelchair-accessible features ensures the space is welcoming and supportive for all children, including those with sensory processing differences.
Our annual programme of upgrades moves beyond traditional play and, on World Autism Awareness Day, council highlight’s how the addition of sensory-friendly equipment helps children of all abilities and neurotypes enjoy our city’s outdoor spaces.
Since 2012, the council’s refurbishment programme has helped improve the safety, quality and accessibility of outdoor play parks across Belfast ensuring our playground are safe and fun for every child.
In addition to a further £580,000 set aside for more playpark upgrades in the next financial year, councillors have also agreed to invest £1.5 million into a Parks Improvement Programme over the next two years. Among the projects due to be delivered are new water refill points at ten sites across the city, three new dog run areas, new benches and a range of maintenance works, including new handrails, fencing and gates at specific sites.
A rolling programme of improvements to bridges within the city’s parks has also been agreed – worth £240,000 annually – which will see remedial works carried out on 50+ bridges across the city’s parklands.
For more information on all of Belfast’s parks, open spaces and playgrounds, visit our Parks and Open Spaces pages.