Runners and walkers of all ages have been invited to ‘Link the Town’ at a community event to mark the new homes and facilities at the St Patrick’s Regeneration Site in Ballymena.
‘Link the Town’, which celebrates the connections right across the Ballymena Community, will take place at 12 noon on 23rd March at Ballymena Showgrounds, and will feature a 2.5km walk and run for all ages and a Golden Mile timed race for those 14 years and above.
The fun day will also have bouncy castles for kids and music!
The fun walk and run and the Golden Mile are being organised by Ballymena Runners and the community event by Ballykeel 2 & District Community Association, D3MAC and Carson Project groups with the support of Radius Housing, as part of the Department for Communities ‘Housing For All’ programme, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and the NI Housing Executive.
The event is free for all to come along to, but anyone interested in the Golden Mile Race should register at www.ballymenarunners.org. PSNI have advised that entrance to the event on the day will be from Broughshane Road roundabout only.
The regeneration of the St Patrick’s site, led by the Department for Communities, includes 135 new homes which are being built by Radius Housing in a new Shared Housing development, a new civic space, a leisure and wellbeing centre, an Integrated Industrial Inspiration and Innovation Campus, and a new PSNI building.
Race organiser, Raymond Ruck from Ballymena Runners, said:
“Ballymena Runners are delighted to take part in this event. We would like to thank sponsors of the event Radius Housing, Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. We would also like to thank Ballykeel 2 District Community Association, D3MAC and the Carson Project community groups who are organising fun family activities and McKillop's who are providing post-race water bottles.”
Speaking ahead of the race, Jennifer Cuthbert, Community Investment Manager from Radius Housing, said:
"We are delighted to support such a positive and exciting community event. Whether you are a competitive runner, an occasional jogger, or if you'd just like a nice spring evening walk, this event has it all. As we develop the new homes at the St Patrick's Barracks site, Radius wants to ensure that we support strong community relations, and we look forward to racing ahead with more wonderful events like this.”
Event Sponsor, Carolyn Crawford, Housing Executive Area Manager said:
"Projects like this are a vital part of our work to promote positive relationships across the community. We have been a key partner in delivering the Shared Housing and Housing for All programme and delivering Good Relations and Cohesion programmes in the area.
“People are at the heart of everything we do so we are delighted to support an event which brings different communities together for exercise, fun and friendship.”
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Alderman Geraldine Mulvenna said:
“Council is delighted to see the completion of this much-anticipated new road, which is a key milestone in the ongoing regeneration of the former St Patrick’s site.
“This event is a brilliant opportunity for our community to experience the new layout of the area and see first-hand the excellent work being conducted, while joining together to take part in a family friendly afternoon of entertainment. The hugely ambitious St Patrick’s regeneration project, led by our partners in the Department for Communities, is transforming the area, helping to create wider economic, environmental, social, and cultural benefits across the Borough.”
D3MAC Community group stated:
"We are delighted to have joined together with other community groups across town to help celebrate this linking of the town through the opening of our new road.”
Ballykeel 2 & District Community Association added:
“This new road brings great opportunities to bridge the differences between two totally different communities, who have always felt divided by religion, status, and culture. It also provides the community a platform to develop opportunities to progress towards the same goal - a brighter and better future for us all in Ballymena not just an easy route to the other end or town. It’s been great working alongside D3MAC and hope to work together again in the years to come.”
Link the Town is supported by the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme. The Programme has its origins in the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy which reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society.
Radius currently has 14 shared housing developments across Northern Ireland, and is currently developing a new £26m, 135 home project at the former St Patrick’s Barracks site in Ballymena.
All developments are supported by Good Relations Plans, including ‘Bridging’ events which are delivered to the wider community to encourage a range of good relations outcomes which include Health and Wellbeing, Education and Training.
For further information please contact ballymenarunners@hotmail.com, or call 07989 401087.
Event schedule
11:30am Gates Open
12:00pm Family fun – Games and Bouncy Castles
12:15pm Warm up to music
12:30pm Start of Fun Walk & Run
12:45pm Registration for Golden Mile closes
1:15pm Ballymena Runners Golden Mile
