Dunville
Park
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Dunville Park is a five-acre site at
the corner of The Grosvenor Road and Falls Road.
It is approximately 1.5 miles from Belfast City Centre and is on a main
arterial route and close to a wide range of services including The Royal
Victoria Hospital, primary schools, secondary schools, colleges, churches,
shopping centres and local shopping areas. Opened in 1887 Dunville was
the first Belfast park to be given as a gift to its citizens. The Dunville
Family donated the park to the people of the city in 1887. Housed within
the park is the famous Dunville Fountain, which is believed to have
been made by the famous ceramic factory, Royal Doulton.
Originally a recreational space for the people of the Falls area where
families would perhaps have strolled on a pleasant summer evening or
after church on Sunday. Where children would have played football or
splashed in the fountain on hot summer days or where visitors to the
nearby Royal Victoria Hospital may perhaps have walked with convalescing
patients. Such a recreational area in the industrial inner city would
surely have been a welcome respite for many and indeed should still
be today. Unfortunately the Falls area in which the Park is situated
has suffered serious economical decline over a considerable period of
time and the park reflects this in both its appearance and usage. Political
instability and its effects in this area also without doubt played a
part in the park’s decline.
In terms of population, West Belfast is the largest of the designated
'areas of social need' in the North of Ireland. The area locates the
most concentrated unemployed population in the North. West Belfast consists
of 6% of the north of Ireland’s population and contains 9-10% of its
officially unemployed population, with a particularly high concentration
of the long-term-unemployed.
Dunville Park is situated in an area of high
deprivation, typified by high unemployment levels and the many other
issues associated with lack of income such as high poverty levels and
in particular child poverty, lack of educational achievement, drug and
alcohol abuse, vehicle theft and petty crime.
The area around Dunville Park is 2nd of 556 wards on the multiple deprivation
measure for Northern Ireland and 4th on the child poverty measure (Noble
2001).
The park is now seldom used by local residents for recreational activities.
Antisocial behaviour such as gangs of youths drinking alcohol and vandalism
are common.
SCA Ltd leases a small one room building in the park and uses this extensively
in their community work within the area. Originally the site for SCA’s
Day Centre for the elderly the organisation have used the building for
their own programmes and to facilitate many other local community groups.
SCA’s Dunville Youth Project, provides an environment for the youth
of the area to meet and interact in many ways both social and educational.
The Youth Project enables young people to take part in capacity building
initiatives and to understand and deal with the issues that impact on
their lives and by doing so to improve their health and social well
being.
A member of the Friends of Dunville group, SCA is working hard to keep
the park as active and useful a part of the local infrastructure as
possible and for the physical and social regeneration of the park so
that it can once again fulfil its vital role in this community.
SCA see the development and regeneration of Dunville
Park as an exciting and invaluable venture for the community. With 27
years experience working in the community sector reacting to its new
and its ever changing needs, SCA feel very well placed to give opinion
on present and future wants.
As a member of ‘The Friends of Dunville Park, a partnership formed in
1998 to promote the park and work toward the regeneration of the park
SCA have taken a lead role and working with such groups as the Royal
Victoria Hospital, Belfast City Council, The Department of the Environment,
West Belfast Traders Association, West Belfast Partnership Board and
the NI Housing Executive they have consulted widely with local community
groups and residents.
In Feb 2002 Ferguson McIlveen were appointed to undertake a strategic
review of Dunville Park with a view to the group developing a strategy
for regeneration.
The Dunville area like the Falls and indeed West Belfast in general
is seeing a changing social and political landscape and with these changes
comes the need for new or greater service provision.
These days the Falls Road is booming with events
such as the West Belfast Festival Feile an Phobail in August attracting
thousands every year, and new bars and cafes opening all the time. Interest
in the Irish language is becoming ever more pronounced and a report
by The West Belfast Task Force recommends an imaginative emphasis on
culture based job creation and describes the vibrant cultural activities
in West Belfast centered on the Irish language and culture. It sees
an outstanding opportunity to foster a powerful and vibrant Gaeltacht
Quarter in the west of the city, based on the Irish language, culture
and traditions and which could add to the rich diversity of Belfast
for the enjoyment of all its citizens and visitors alike
Since the decline of conflict on the streets of West Belfast tourism
has increased dramatically and has now become a vital aspect of the
local economy.
Peter Quinn Consultants & Locus Management Ltd. Produced a business
plan that states: -
60% of inquiries made to the Tourist Information centre in the city
centre, related to an interest in West Belfast. This translates into
19,000 potential visitors per annum and estimates to a combined economic
benefit for West Belfast of £1.25m.
A survey on Visitor Statistics currently being carried out by Fáilte
Feirste Thiar tourism office on the Falls Road indicates over 485,000
visitors last year and estimates this figure will exceed 500,000 this
year or next. These figures give an idea of the enormous impact tourism
is having and will have on West Belfast and the necessity to ensure
suitable and professional services are in place to accommodate this
growth.
Visitors Centre.
SCA propose to incorporate a visitor’s centre in the Dunville Park building
where visitors can access information on the area and indeed on the
whole city. This would also be an area where visitors could view the
rich history of the Dunville area and the Falls Rd, purchase maps, information
packs and souvenirs. It is envisaged this visitor’s area would be a
part of a large reception area incorporating reception desk, counter
areas and free standing display units. All visitors would access the
building through this main reception area. Schools would be encouraged
to visit the centre and visual displays local storey tellers and sightseeing
trips will all enhance the experience whether it be cultural or educational.
Meeting and Conference facilities.
There are few conference facilities available to the community or private
sector in The Falls Rd area of West Belfast and we at SCA see a need
for such a service.
We as an organisation continually need to source conference or meeting
facilities and more than often these are in expensive hotel venues.
This service would be a valuable provision for the very vibrant community
and voluntary sector in the Dunville area and would also be a revenue
stream that we would promote with the private sector in the area.
SCA propose to incorporate a room within the Dunville Park building
which would facilitate 70 persons seated with provision for visual displays
such as Overhead projection and PowerPoint. This room could be halved
in size using a centre screen creating two smaller rooms.
Educational Facilities:
SCA are involved in education within the community in various ways.
Our ‘Into Learning Programme’ teaches basic computer and life skills
to people with no previous experience or training in IT skills. Teaching
in the use of popular applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel
and in using email and the Internet is giving people who might otherwise
never have experienced these tools the confidence to progress to further
education or perhaps into employment. SCA also deliver numerous training
programmes within their own organisation teaching skills that staff,
volunteers, and people on intermediate employment programmes can use
to enhance their own cv’s and assist in finding employment.
Our ‘Family Learning Programme’ in association with BIFHE (Belfast Institute
for Further and Higher Education) provide computers with broadband Internet
access into the homes of families in the community who would otherwise
not be able to avail of this service. Family members are then supported
in their learning and encouraged to progress to further education and
accredited training.
SCA are extremely proud of the fact that almost 70% of those on intermediate
employment programmes within the organisation move directly into permanent
employment and would welcome the opportunity through this modern location
to use this skill and expertise to impact on the community.
FUN DAY IN DUNVILLE PARK
7th August 2006 2pm –4.30pm
SCA, Belfast City Council and the Friends of Dunville Park are having
a Fun Day in Dunville Park on Monday 7th August 2006. This event is
supported by Belfast City Council and will offer 5yr – 12yr olds a range
of fun activities and admission is free. Children and parents are all
welcome!!!!!
Map of Dunville
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