City council funding for a project that will benefit a large section of local community
The Archdeacon of Down and Rector of Willowfield Parish, the Venerable David McClay, welcomed a sizeable crowd of invited guests, parishioners and well–wishers who assembled at the front door leading to the new facilities as witnesses to Saturday morning’s official opening ceremony.
The man chosen to cut the blue ribbon was the High Sherriff of Belfast, Alderman Tom Haire, who told his audience that Willowfield is a district with which he has long been familiar.
“My uncle used to be a policeman and he served from just across the road at Willowfield Barracks,” he said.
Highlighting council funding in excess of half–a–million pounds for the Willowfield project, he stressed: “The City Council is delighted to have committed £560,000 to the refurbishment of these church halls through the Belfast Investment Fund.
“The BIF was established to support partnership projects across the city and is designed to support larger projects,” he explained.
“BIF has a number of key objectives such as the council playing a lead role in the development of the city, creating a can–do attitude among citizens to create a sense of pride in Belfast, encouraging investment from other sectors and contributing to the council’s vision under the city’s Belfast Agenda.
“With this refurbishment, it does that. The redevelopment of Willowfield Parish Church Halls, for the use of Willowfield youth, is the first project on site and delivered by the programme.
“The parish hall was in poor decorative order and as one who used to come here I can appreciate that. The football league meeting used to be (held) here on a monthly basis.
“Its mechanical and electrical services certainly needed to be replaced as they no longer met the needs of the Willowfield community, or (met) Best Practice standards.
“This major refurbishment and extension was needed to equip the facility for its on–going and growing youth work. The newly developed facilities are also going to benefit the wider community, providing a space for parents and toddlers and for older people to make use of when the facility isn’t being used for youth work.”
He ended by saying: “I look forward to seeing these new facilities benefitting the local community for many years to come and to see many of you will come through these doors, not just today but for many years to come.”
With that formality completed the members of the enthusiastic crowd made their way through the automatic glass doors to see for themselves what exactly lay inside.
Most certainly, they were not disappointed.
Once through the door the first room they discovered was the Health Suite in which there will be structured health and fitness programmes for youngsters to pensioners and those in between.
In keeping with the ‘healthy body, healthy mind’ adage, the aim here is to boost both physical and mental well–being.
Next on the circuit of discovery was the original hall. This has been transformed into a sports hall capable of facilitating football, basketball, dodgeball and captain ball.
The stage may have gone, but only to enable the provision of so much more.
The former Centenary Hall has been transformed beyond recognition, too. As from now it will be known as The Hub, a fully appropriate name given that it lies right at the heart of the new set–up.
Its facilities include two large TV screens/games consoles, table tennis and pool. And with it adjoining a large, impressively well–equipped and easily–kept–clean modern kitchen, The Hub really does promise to be a much–used nerve–centre.
At the front of the building, facing onto the Woodstock Road, The Glass Space is a striking space in which groups will be able to gather for a coffee.
As with The Glass Space, The Gallery is another of the areas designed with relaxation and informality in mind. Situated above what used to be the church hall’s stage, it overlooks the sports hall below.
It boasts sofas plus another large TV screen. Home from home.
Having had 45 minutes in which to familiarise themselves with all of these excellent new indoor facilities – enjoying light refreshments as they did so – the second and final part of the opening ceremony saw the focus of attention switch to the U–Turn Project.
Located outdoors, immediately behind the halls, this cleverly designed facility features three enclosed areas – a two–in–one football/basketball court, a fully–equipped young children’s play area and, adjoining it, an open space complete with permanent, picnic–type tables and benches.