Hazelbank and Gideons Green

These two parks are situated on the shores of Belfast Lough and offer fantastic views to Belfast, Carrickfergus and County Down. There are walkways and cycle paths for the more active.

Hazelbank park is classed as one of the best parks in Newtownabbey with some stunning shrub beds, woodland garden and estate trees. There is a playground for children of all ages, a bowling green, a cycle path and a walkway to health that runs through the park.

In the summer you can visit the shore for a paddle or have a picnic on the grass so there is something for everyone at this park. The pavilion often hosts classes and courses. Bicycles can be hired in the summer from 9am to 5pm. The Bowling green is open from Easter to September. Gideons Green offers some great bird viewing over the Whitehouse lagoon.

The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Threemile Water Park

This is an open country park with meadow and woodland. It hosts a conservation area with natural hedgerows and mature trees. Considerable new planting took place in co-operation with the Woodland Trust in 2006 to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Over 3000 trees were planted by 300 local school children to create our “ Euryalus Wood” to enhance the biodiversity of the area. On the open space there are playing fields, a cricket square, tennis and hockey pitches that are open to dusk. In the summer there is an athletics track. There is a pavilion and changing area.

The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Valley Park

A large town park with lifestyle walking routes. Flowing through the park is a river and there is plenty of open space surrounded by meadowland and community woodland. For the kids there is a small play area for children of all ages, a basketball court and football pitches, a synthetic hockey pitch and a pond where the family can feed the ducks beside the Valley Leisure Centre. The play area is due to be redeveloped in 2007.

The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Abbey Glen

This park is to be refurbished in 2007 will open up to the viaducts at Threemile water. The woodland in this park is more mature. Tarmac paths offer good access for the public and it is pleasant to walk around. There is a play park for young children.

The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Ballynure Park

This is a town park offering a good play area for children of all ages. The park has good walkways with nice trees and shrubs and some open parkland for general recreation.

The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Burnside Country Park

This is a country park attached to Burnside village. There is a large play area for children of all ages.The river offers some good walkways for the more active and the park is quite attractive with parkland and meadowland.

The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Glasna Braden

This is a liner park has a mature woodland, grassland meadows and a river flowing through it. There are some good footways and cycle ways offering a quick shortcut for the public.

The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Ballyclare War Memorial Park

Newtownabbey’s only traditional Victorian Park is a large park with a war memorial. It has many delightful flowerbeds and a play area for all ages.. The Six Mile River runs through the park and is perfect for walking along to feed the ducks. Duck feed can be purchased at Six Mile Leisure Centre. There is plenty of open grass space for picnics and for the more active there are football pitches. Other activities such as swimming are available at the nearby leisure centre.

The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Glengormley Park

This is a park right in the heart of Glengormley. There is a bowling green and tennis courts. For the children there is a good play area for all ages. The pavilion here is bookable for badminton, dance, Scouts, Guides and birthdays.

The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Jordanstown Loughshore Park

This park is situated on the shores of Belfast Lough. It is connected to Hazelbank park by a cycle path that is due to be extended to Carrickfergus. The park has a good play area for children of all ages and a caravan park. The open grass area provides a great space for football, kite flying and hosts the Loughshore Festival and Rock festival. In the summer local bands set up on Wednesday evenings in the car park to provide the community with entertainment.

Caravan Park Information

The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is due for redevelopment in 2007.

Mossley Recreation Ground

This is a large park with lots of open space and parkland. Facilities include football pitches, tennis, a bowling green and a play area for young children. There is a pavilion for badminton, indoor sports and keep fit classes.

The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

People’s Park Rathcoole

This is a large landscaped park ideal for walking and football. There is also a skateboard area and a viewpoint so you can see right round the park. There are several walkways that offer a short cut through the park.

The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Sandyknowes Park

This is a small town park with walkways, mature trees and a play area for children of all ages. The walkways are great for a stroll and are well lit at night.

The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Sixmilewater River Park

This is an attractive park with the Sixmile River flowing through it. There is an open lawn area with meadowland. Within the park, a conservation area with a pond makes a good day out where you can feed the ducks. At the rear of the Six Mile Leisure Centre there is a natural park with a range of bio diversity on offer.

3 tennis courts are available for tennis enthusiasts and the park hosts some great events such as the Ballyclare Fair and the Gymkhana. The tennis courts are closed during the winter and open in the summer until dusk. It is a popular park for cross country, tennis and barbeques in the summer.

The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.