Pop-up park inaugurated in Belfast’s city centre

The site is unique in Belfast and will be part of the landscape for the next two years

As part of its efforts to find new ways to make use of public spaces in a post-COVID world, Belfast City Council has inaugurated its very first pop-up park located in the space at the city’s Cathedral Gardens. The new venue was inaugurated by the Lord Mayor of Belfast Alderman Frank McCoubrey, who was especially proud of the fact that local authorities worked hand-in-hand with children to finalize the park’s design.

Thinking outside the box

With the easing of lockdown measures but with social distancing requirements still in place, the Belfast City Council has had to get creative when it comes to providing solutions for its public spaces. Thus, the new pop-up park makes sure that it is not simply yet another convenient place to relax while keeping a distance from others, but it also offers plenty of opportunities for the local children to kick back and have fun.  

Alderman Frank McCoubrey stated that “I’m so pleased to see the finished project and I hope it will be enjoyed by people and provide a welcoming place to stop with a coffee, or for families to enjoy a picnic. What’s really special about the park is that it’s been designed for kids, by kids, and I really think that’s fantastic.

We talked to play workers and children about what we should include in the park and they provided us with a wish-list. We took that feedback onboard, and it has shaped the design of the park and the equipment we’ve installed – we even delivered on the unicorn grass.”

The park is also a trial for a more permanent structure at the Cathedral Gardens. In its current iteration, the venue will occupy the space for the next two years, after which it will be dismantled and replaced with something else. Should the feedback from locals end up being positive, the local government will consider making it a permanent addition to the city.