'My town has nowhere for kids - but a new park could change that'

Like most parents, Chloe McDevitt and Joanne Murray want to walk out the front door with their children and stroll to the park for some fresh air and a runabout.

The only problem is that in their hometown, there is nowhere to go.

Strabane is one of the biggest towns in County Tyrone, with about 14,000 people living there, but a lack of large green spaces mean parents are more likely to drive to Omagh or even Letterkenny in County Donegal to get out with their children.

But that could be about to change, with the news that construction could start later this year on a long-delayed multi-million pound park that links Strabane and Lifford, stretching across the River Foyle into the Republic of Ireland.

The Riverine Project was first put forward in 2012, but only launched earlier in January, moving forward with new EU funding of €16.7m (£14.5m).

The project proposes family fun areas, a pavilion building for cultural events, and new parks and greenways.

For Chloe, the announcement has come not a moment too soon.

"I think there is a presence of mums, especially in Strabane, online that really fight for things for their kids to do in the town," she said.

"If this was to make it, I feel like people would back it."

Chloe added that plans for a new skate park in Strabane had faced opposition from local residents - a petition against the proposals was launched in January.

"I know there was controversy on that and people not wanting it," she said.

"But I mean what is there for young people in Strabane? There's not much."

Joanne said for her and her daughter, a sunny day means a trip outside Strabane.

"I would probably go to the Gortin Glens near Omagh, or at least go to Derry," she said.

"I feel for anybody that can't drive, there's nothing really on your doorstep in this area."

Although her daughter is only seven months old, Joanne said "limited resources" for children's activities in the area would be an issue once she gets moving.

"Anything that there is, it is booked up or you have to pay."

As for walking routes located in town, she said the bypass was a frequent spot for locals - but this was far from ideal for a walk with a baby.

"You have car fumes, noise and lots of traffic.

"There's nowhere really off road that you could just go, like a green space."

Chloe added that the lack of outdoor facilities also contributed to anti-social behaviour issues.

She said she had young people throwing rubbish into her garden and hitting her with water balloons.

Chloe said Riverine would be a good way "to get young people off the streets".

Barney Harte, a Sinn Féin councillor, knows the ups and downs of the project having formerly served as chair of the Riverine Community Forum in 2020.

He said he could "understand people's scepticism" as to whether the project would be finally realised, but the recent launch should be viewed as positive.

The project, first proposed in 2012, hit the rocks a year later when funds were withdrawn due to the Irish government not providing match funding.

A renewed application for EU funding failed in 2018 and then the planning application lapsed in 2023, causing further delays.

Fergus Martin, from Lifford, is still sceptical.

"It's one of those things where I'd have to see it to believe it.

"There's always talk of these things happening, but nothing ever gets done in the end."

"It'd be great for the community if it went ahead," he added.

Barney Harte said tenders for the project are to be issued in April, with work set to begin in September.

"I think when people see those diggers on site, that's when they'll be confident that things will move at pace."

Donegal County Council said detailed design works were "progressing well".

The £14.5m of funding was given by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) through Peaceplus.

At the official project launch in January, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons congratulated the "joint efforts and resolution of both councils".