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Plans have been drawn up to transform an abandoned waterway into an oasis in the city.

The Springfield Dam in West Belfast has been earmarked for a major overhaul which could see features created including purpose built walkways, a “reconfiguration” of an existing play park, an amphitheatre for outdoor performances and even manmade islands in the middle of the former mill pond at the centre of the site.

A feasibility study of the planned regeneration has been carried out with two options - depending on how ambitious city chiefs want to be or how much money they have to spend.

The site sits behind Farset on the Springfield Road and is largely unused now. But the plans envisage locals, and people from further afield, using the area for recreation and educational activities from walking to fishing and even wildlife watching for school kids.

The study says the site, which is currently owned by the Department for Communities, “shares a boundary with Springfield Park and therefore there is an opportunity to create a larger enhanced and integrated open space”.

The cheaper option 1 plan to create the “positive public open space”, costed at around £450,000, envisages that “proposed paths will provide for circulation between the Dam and Springfield Park and also link into proposed new entrances into the site”.

Other elements include “proposed recreational facilities” like a “modular building” which will be “flexible to facilitate nature learning, water safety training and potential use by local activity groups”. Fishing stands and the activity trail are also in the pipeline under option 1.

The more ambitious option 2 plans, costed at around £1.2 million, include a “key design feature” which is a stage and amphitheatre “which would link Springfield Park and the Dam”.

It adds: “This space would offer attractive views over the water and could also be used for outdoor performances. In order to further enhance the space and interpret the site heritage, a potential art installation would be positioned near this key space.

“The potential re-configuration of the park would optimise the parks interface with the Dam and create a single larger ‘park’. The proposed park works would include new paths and tree planting. The park entrances and boundary treatments would also be enhanced, including ‘gateway’ entrance features.”

Other features include picnic benches, boardwalks that “would increase access to the water edge and facilitate nature learning and pond dipping etc” as well as “floating islands [that] would create additional habitats and also add interest to the Dam”.

The feasibility study, however, does raise a number of concerns about the site including anti-social behaviour that could lead to “physical damage of the site” and also leave “potential park users... afraid to use the park”.

Jim McVeigh, a Sinn Fein councillor in the area, said that Belfast Council are “in discussions with the Department for Communities who own the asset to take over ownership and maintenance”.

Mr McVeigh, who is also chair of the Friends of Springfield Dam group, added: “In return we hope they will invest the money as outlined in plan B, the maximum amount. If they do, we will be able to turn this asset into a fantastic community amenity.”

A Department for Communities spokesperson said: “The Department for Communities commissioned the Feasibility Study with Belfast City Council and are currently working with them to agree the best way forward.”