Local Church Draws Major Interest in New Children’s Play Facility

Ballymena fellowship, Green Pastures has attracted massive interest this week in a brand-new children’s play area which they officially opened on Easter Sunday.

The church has revealed it has received countless phone calls and messages online from eager members of the public regarding opening times.

Explained Green Pastures Communications Person, Stacey Wright: “We are thrilled to open this incredible space, and we love that our town is getting excited too! However, while the new play area is in full swing for everyone, including the public during church services, every Sunday at kids' church and during the parents and tot’s group (called Noah’s Ark every Thursday at 10 am), it will not be available for use during the rest of the week until later this year.”

Around 300 people at the Ballee-based ministry had just finished worship at their Resurrection Sunday Service when scores of excited children took advantage of the impressive new arena. Parents, youth, and general church families attended the special launch of a complex, with no fewer than 80 kids exploring every inch of the new play area. Since then, the church has been besieged by calls and messages about the impressive Playground.

Added Stacey Wright: “We’ve been inundated with requests from many families and organisations who can't wait to join the fun. Our heart as a church has always been to create a space that is so magnificent that it tells of the glory of God and yet at the same time is a space that is simply reachable, relevant, and open to everyone to come and experience God for themselves.”

She added, “The Playground is the effect of that heart and has been developed with the people of Ballymena and beyond in mind. We can't wait to share it completely in the coming months! The public can fully enjoy The Playground - from special occasions to general everyday use - very soon when catering facilities are completed, hopefully in September.”

The facility includes a massive soft play area with slides, trampolines, and a ball pit. A tiny tot’s area exists in the soft play area, too. There is a mini football stadium to play football and a little crowd to cheer them on. Then there’s ‘Happy Street,’ which is like something out of Disneyland. It boasts a little grocery shop, police station, vets, doctors, beauty parlour, a pizza parlour and even a fire station with a fire truck, sticking out the back that they can drive in.

The entire village has a road that runs through the Playground and a white picket fence around it. There’s also a chalk wall for little creators and a prayer wall where kids and parents can post their prayer requests as the rest of the church locks arms with them and joins in their Prayers, too. There is a very modern coffee area nicely decorated with tables and sofas, which makes a great place for parents to sit and chat, relax, and get some extra fuel as their kids play. 

More details on all church ministries can be found at www.gpastures.co.uk/gpkids, and more details on The Playground will be announced soon. Meanwhile, keep up to speed by logging on to the Green Pastures website and social media in the coming months as anticipation grows for all that this unique space will become.