New 3G Pitches Enhance Community Sports in Mid and East Antrim

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman William McCaughey officially opens the refurbished pitch facilities in Sunnylands along with Lindsay Houston, MEABC Parks & Open Spaces Manager, and Tara McAleese, MEABC Parks Development Officer.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has announced the completion of significant refurbishment works at the Greenisland multi-use games area and the Sunnylands mini pitch in Carrickfergus.

The projects mark a continued commitment to enhancing local sports infrastructure and promoting active lifestyles within the community.

The upgraded sites now boast modern 3G synthetic playing surfaces designed to support a variety of sporting activities.

Pictured alongside Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman William McCaughey, at the reopening of the 3G facilities in Sunnylands are Lindsay Houston, MEABC Parks & Open Spaces Manager (Development), Tony Madden, MEABC Project Development Officer, Cllr Bobby Hadden, Alex Carmichael, MEABC Parks & Open Spaces Manager (Mid-Antrim), Ciaran Rice, McAdam Design, Stephen Dines, MEABC Playgrounds Inspector, and Tara McAleese, MEABC Parks Development Officer.

At Sunnylands, the mini pitch has been transformed with a high-quality 3G surface tailored for 3-a-side football, while Greenisland’s revamped facility caters to both basketball and football with a durable 3G surface, offering flexibility for multiple sports year-round.

The works were delivered by Tony Patterson Sports Grounds, a trusted provider of sports facility construction across Northern Ireland.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman William McCaughey officially opens the refurbished pitch facilities in Greenisland.

Pictured alongside Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman William McCaughey, at the reopening of the 3G facilities in Greenisland are Lindsay Houston, MEABC Parks & Open Spaces Manager (Development), Cllr Bobby Hadden, Cllr Peter Johnston, Cllr Andrew Wilson, Stephen Dines, MEABC Playgrounds Inspector, Tony Madden, MEABC Project Development Officer, Ciaran Rice, McAdam Design, Alex Carmichael, MEABC Parks & Open Spaces Manager (Mid-Antrim), and Tara McAleese, MEABC Parks Development Officer.

Speaking at the launch of the newly completed facilities, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman William McCaughey, praised the investment:

“I’m thrilled to see these fantastic new facilities open to the public. They are a valuable addition to the Carrickfergus and Greenisland communities.

“The Council remains dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of our children and young people, and we hope these spaces encourage them to stay active and reap the many rewards of physical activity.”

The newly improved facilities are part of the Council’s broader strategy to provide accessible and inclusive play and recreation areas across the Borough.

This initiative is supported by the Out to Play Strategy and the Council’s Play Investment Framework, both of which aim to ensure sustained annual investment in play and sports spaces to meet the needs of growing communities.

These latest upgrades are expected to benefit residents of all ages by providing safe, all-weather environments that encourage physical activity, community engagement and improved wellbeing.