One of the most popular family attractions in Derry celebrates its 30th anniversary this month.
Creggan Country Park, in the Creggan estate of the city, will mark the occasion with a series of events throughout the year.
Originally set up in 1992 as Glenowen Fisheries, the charity is a not for profit organisation that provides access to outdoor activities, training and education.
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The 100-acre site is host to two freshwater reservoirs, woodland, hedgerow, ponds, wetland, wildflower meadows and an activity centre.
Over 20,000 visitors each year take part in nature-themed activities, canoeing, environmental art, orienteering, team games, wheely boat tours and angling lessons.
Speaking to MyDerry , manager Gerry Quinn, who was instrumental in the park's conception and development, explained how the idea came about.
"During that time, the Creggan area was still very much taking part in a conflict that was raging across Northern Ireland," he said.
"And there were four of us originally that were out of work and we decided that we would look for some kind of work that would be self-employment.
"I had known about reservoirs full-time and I was aware that in England reservoirs were used for angling and turned into small businesses.
"And that's when we decided that we could start a fishery in 1992 and that's how we started off. We had Jack Charlton here to do the launch as well which was brilliant.
"Once we got in and we were settled we realised that there was potential for much more.
"I had a young family at the time and there was often nothing to do or nowhere to take them and that's how this all grew from there.
"All we wanted to do was to be able was to provide better facilities for the people of Creggan and the surrounding areas."
As a shared neutral green infrastructure space and outdoor adventure centre, the park combines to provide a platform for a programme of training and employment which addresses disadvantages by promoting inclusion and social cohesion at the neighbourhood level.
Gerry said "he could never have imagined" how far the charity would have been all these years later.
He added: "In May 1992, we started out of the back of Toyota Corolla car. We eventually got ourselves a portacabin and did work out of that for a long time.
"We then got an even bigger portacabin and that's how this all developed to what it is today. We eventually moved the fishing from one reservoir to another one and that's when we began to develop our activity centre. That cost us around £900,000
"So, we started out in a [Toyota] Corolla car and now we have a facility that's probably worth over a million.
"And we only started we thought it was brilliant that we got £17,000 from the International Fund for Glenowen Fisheries. The following year the project won the All-Ireland award for co-operative of the year.
"When we look back at it now, we broke ground in Creggan during what was a very turbulent time for everyone living in this community. There were armed troops and police on the streets and it was an entirely different world."
"It was very challenging at the time to start this very small business. The park itself was a space where people did what they wanted," Gerry added.
"We grew bit by bit and we've appreciated all of the help that we've had over the years. When you're so involved with it, sometimes you need to step back and realise what you've actually accomplished.
"We had a tough time through Covid-19 because we had exciting plans to expand ourselves but that had to be put on hold.
"We now have new equipment that we'll get delivered to us hopefully soon and we're looking forward to planning for the future."
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