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 £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 128acres 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.
| Name of park | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| near Antrim Road, north Belfast | ||
| Alderman Tommy Patton Memorial Park | Inverary Avenue, Holywood Road, east Belfast | Commonly known as Inverary Playing Fields[8] |
| near Antrim Road, north Belfast | ||
| Barnett Demesne | near Shaw's Bridge, south Belfast | |
| Belmont Park | Cairnburn Road, east Belfast | Semi-wild[9] |
| University area, south Belfast | Contains Palm House and Tropical Ravine[10] Botanic station. | |
| Carnanmore Park | near Stewartstown Road, south-west Belfast | |
| Carmena Allen Memorial Park | Braniel, east Belfast | Better known as Braniel Park or sometimes Sam's Park |
| Carr's Glen Linear Park | Ballysillan Road, north Belfast | |
| Cavehill Country Park | near Antrim Road, north Belfast | Two time Green Flag Award winner[11] |
| Donegall Square, central Belfast | ||
| Clarawood Millennium Park | near Knock Road, east Belfast | |
| Clement Wilson Park | Newforge Lane, south Belfast | |
| Seven mile cycle route along path of a disused railway[12] | ||
| Dover Street Millennium Park | near Shankill Road, west Belfast | |
| Dr Pitt Memorial Park | Newtownards Road, east Belfast | |
| Drumglass Park | Lisburn Road, south Belfast | Also called Cranmore or Marlborough Park[13] |
| Dunville Park | Falls Road, west Belfast | |
| Falls Park | Falls Road, west Belfast | Facing Milltown cemetery[14] |
| Finlay Park | Whitewell Road, north Belfast | |
| Forthriver Park | Ballygomartin Road, west Belfast | |
| Gasworks | Ormeau Road, south Belfast | Business park[15] |
| Dargan Road, north-east Belfast | Proposal for future park[16] | |
| Ballynahatty, south Belfast | ||
| Glenbank Park | Ligoniel Road, north-west Belfast | |
| Glencairn Park | Glencairn Road, west Belfast | |
| Greenville Park | Grand Parade, Castlereagh Road, east Belfast | |
| Stockman's Lane, south-west Belfast | ||
| King William Park | near Lisburn Road, south Belfast | one of Belfast's smallest parks[17] |
| Knocknagoney Linear Park | Holywood Road, east Belfast | |
| Lagan Meadows | along the River Lagan, south Belfast | partial nature reserve[18] |
| Lenadoon Millennium Park | near Stewartstown Road, west Belfast | |
| Ligoniel Park | Ligoniel Road, north-west Belfast | |
| Loughside Park | Shore Road, north Belfast | |
| Marrowbone Millennium Park | Oldpark Road, north Belfast | |
| Michelle Baird Memorial Park | Forthriver Road, west Belfast | |
| Stockman's Lane, south-west Belfast | 2010 Green Flag Award winner[19] | |
| Northwood Linear Park | Shore Road, north Belfast | |
| Orangefield Park | Orangefield Lane, East Belfast | |
| Ormeau Road, south Belfast | ||
| Roddens Park | Braniel, east Belfast | Not to be confused with a nearby street with the same name |
| Upper Malone Road, south Belfast | Annual Rose Week every July[20] | |
| Springhill Millennium Park | Springhill Avenue, Springfield Road, west Belfast | |
| Springfield Park | Springfield Road, west Belfast | |
| Park Avenue near Holywood Road, east Belfast | Contains a lake[21] Near Sydenham station. | |
| Waterworks | between Antrim Road and Cavehill Road, north Belfast | Former source of city's water supply[22] |
| Woodvale Road, upper Shankill, north-west Belfast | ||
| Wedderburn Park | near Lisburn Road, south Belfast | Contains playing fields, bowling green and tennis courts[23] |