Culmore District Park opens to public after £7million restoration

The new Culmore District Park has opened to the public following a major £7million restoration.

The space had operated as a landfill site for almost forty years spanning an area the size of forty football pitches.

The dump was closed by the former Derry City Council in 2007 when the decision was taken to build a park overlooking Lough Foyle.

Conor Canning is the Head of Environment with Derry City and Strabane District Council, outlining the work involved in preparing the site, he said:

“The site, which was originally tidal, was reclaimed for agriculture use in the late 19th century and early part of the 20th century.

“Prior to 1971 the sea defences installed for the agricultural reclamation of the tidal marshes were breached during a storm and the land had returned to tidal mudflats. In 1971, the site was developed by the former Londonderry Development Commission as a controlled municipal landfill site.

“Following closure the site has been restored by Derry City and Strabane District Council to reduce its impact on Lough Foyle and the surrounding environment.

“This has involved the capping of the site to reduce rainwater coming into contact with the waste and becoming polluted and to trap gas being emitted by the infilled waste.

“In total over half a million tonnes of soil has been used to create the public park, with the trapped gas being collected and used to generate electricity to operate the park, local waste water treatment works and for export to the National Grid.”

The new development has created habitats for internationally important over-wintering birds and an important location for biodiversity with wading birds feeding on the mudflats.

The Culmore District Park will be open to the public Monday to Sunday from 08.00am to dusk.