A three and a half year battle to get a toddlers’ playpark for the lower Woodstock Road has ended in victory.

The Lower Woodstock Community Association, which has championed the transformation of a strip of green space along Eversleigh Street, is celebrating with local parents after being told the good news they have been fighting for.

A decision by Belfast City Council and £350,000 funding from the Department of Social Development (DSD) has meant the dream of a toddler’s playpark at Eversleigh Street can now become a reality.

Brain Reid, chairman of the Lower Woodstock Community Association, has been behind the lengthy campaign to transform the narrow grassy strip into a safe haven for the area’s young tots.

He said: “We are just over the moon. Work is due to be starting in March [2009]. We have already seen the designs and they look great, we are really delighted. When we set-up the association one of our main priorities was the playpark, so this is a real victory for us and the people of this area.”

Over 2,000 people live in the district and their nearest port-of-call for a play area is Ormeau Park, said Mr Reid.

“What we wanted to create was a safe place for the toddlers in the area. There are a lot of single parents in the area and we wanted to give them somewhere they could get a bit of respite while watching the toddlers.”

The voluntary community worker said the playpark is even more of an important resource as a nearby street has become a “dangerous rat-run”.

“We have a problem with a rat-run at Rathmore Street. It’s become a shortcut and with the commuter parking in the area that worried a lot of people. Wee toddlers don’t understand the road,” he said.

Mr Reid said he was glad during the lengthy battle he did not give up.

“There were times when there was a bit of stamping of our feet, we just wouldn’t give up so it’s a great result,” he said.

“I also have to thank the politicians, especially (Councillor) Michael Copeland, who supported us from the beginning and got us a meeting with (Councillor) Bob Stoker who was also very helpful.”

The green light was also given for a playpark at Sliabh Dubh View off the Springfield Road in west Belfast.

The £350,000 from DSD will go towards building both playparks. The east Belfast toddlers’ park is expected to cost in the region of £190,000.

Councillors at the Parks and Leisure Committee heard details of the DSD agreement at a recent meeting.

Committee chairman, Councillor Bob Stoker, said: “We are currently undertaking a review of playground provision but we are satisfied that playgrounds are needed in both these areas.

“We had been in discussion with residents from the Eversleigh Street for some time when we were also approached by residents from Sliabh Dubh, a new estate with more than 200 homes.

“The land has been made available thanks to co-operation from both the Housing Executive and Fold Housing Association and the DSD has agreed to pay the capital costs of building them.

“It is one of our key priorities to work with other agencies to improve the quality of life for our residents and this is an example of the outcome that such partnerships can produce. I think we are all delighted at the result.”