The £4.5m regeneration of 17th Century Brooke Park in Derry, Northern Ireland, will reap the benefits of a £94,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s (HLF) Parks for People programme.

Derry City Council will receive the stage one development grant to advance the project, but also has the potential to secure a stage two award of more than £1.4m. The Brooke Park project comprises the restoration of green space -– the only historic green space on the west bank of the River Foyle -– and plans are being developed to conserve existing historic features and to create new community facilities.

The council is working in close partnership with the Friends of Brooke Park and the Outer West Neighbourhood Partnership to develop the plans. Brooke Park was created in 1840 as the grounds of an orphanage and the public park was established in 1901.

HLF has also awarded stage one funding to 13 other parks using lottery funds to support regeneration, conservation and increased enjoyment of public parks. HLF plans to invest £20m each year in park development projects from 2009.