St. Columb’s Park is a 70-acre (28 ha)[1] municipal park in Derry, Northern Ireland. The park is named after St. Columba, who is the city's patron saint. The park contains the ruins of a medieval church, an 18th century manor house, as well as many modern amenities such as a leisure centre and sports pitches.
The park has undergone many improvement works in recent decades as part of a redevelopment of the wider area. In 2011 the Peace Bridge was opened, which provides the park with a direct connection into the heart of the city centre via the developed Ebrington Square which hosted the British Army until 2002. In 2015 the new leisure centre, Foyle Arena, was opened at a cost of £12 million and contains a swimming pool, gym, and climbing wall as well as other amenities.[2]
In July 2019 a revamped entrance into the park was opened at a cost of £385,000. The work changed the route of the road that leads to St. Columb’s Park House to improve safety and included a grand new entrance gate.[3] Work is also being done to reopen the old walled garden of the manor house.[4]
Since the completion of the Waterside Greenway the park has a direct pedestrian and cycle path that connects to both the Peace Bridge and Gransha Park. There are plans to extend the Greenway further which will connect Strathfoyle directly to the park.[5]
- ^ "St. Columb's Park". Outdoor NI. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ "New £12.7m Foyle arena set to open in Derry". BBC News. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ "St Columb's Park Avenue re-opens after £385,000 upgrade". Derry Journal. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ "WDR Taggart to lead regeneration of St. Columb's Park walled garden". Derry Journal. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ "Enagh Youth Forum says it's time for the extension of the Waterside greenway in Derry to Strathfoyle". Derry Journal. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.