Burnside Country Park

This is a country park attached to Burnside village. There is a medium play area for children aged 3 to 12. The river offers some good walkways for the more active and the park is quite attractive with parkland and meadowland.

Glen Park

This park now opens up to the viaducts at Threemile water park, so there is a great walk from the shores of Belfast Lough right up through the park.

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 small play park for children aged 3 to 12.

Glen Park is currently part of a new Council pilot scheme called ’Love My Park’. The scheme is designed to allow members of the community to take action against vandalism and conserve Glen Park. Our wardens patrol all our parks to deter and prevent such activities but are asking the public to help by reporting damage, becoming involved in the park and any events. A short video is available by clicking the ’videos’ tab above. For further details or to become a volunteer with Love My Park contact Whiteabbey Community Group on 9086 7494 or email whiteabbeycg@googlemail.com

Lilian Bland Community 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 medium sized play area suitable for ages 3 to 12. The pavilion here is bookable for badminton, dance, Scouts, Guides and birthdays.

A new sculpture in Glengormley Park commemorates the remarkable achievements of Carnmoney woman - Lilian Bland, the first woman in the world to design, build and fly her own aeroplane.

Read more about Lilian Bland in our Heritage section.

Hazelbank Park

Hazelbank park is classed as one of the best parks in Newtownabbey as it is situated on the shores of Belfast Lough and offers fantastic views to Belfast, Carrickfergus and County Down.

Within the park you will find some stunning shrub beds, woodland garden and estate trees.

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.

Historical Fact – The turrets in Hazelbank Park were used as World War II lookout posts.

There is a medium sized playground for children from the age of 3 to 12, a bowling green, a cycle path and a walking route that runs through the park. The pavilion often hosts classes and courses and the Bowling green is open from Easter to September You can walk or cycle from Hazelbank Park in to Belfast on the National Cycle Way. The route passes along the waterside of Belfast Lough right up to the Lagan Towpath.

Jordanstown Loughshore Park

This park is situated on the shores of Belfast Lough and has a large modern play area for children from the ages of 3 to 12. The open grass area provides a great space for football, kite flying and hosts the Loughshore festival.

The summer local bands set up on Wednesday evenings in the car park to provide the community with entertainment.

You can go walking or cycling right from Jordanstown Loughshore right along to Hazelbank Park and into Belfast

There is a caravan park that is open all year round however 24 hrs notice is required for bookings. Booking is essential, click the link below..

Mossley Park

Mossley Recreation Grounds has a modern play park for children aged 3 to 12 years old where the kids can play on the swings and conquer the climbing frame.

The adults can enjoy playing football on the full sized fenced pitch or try bowling on the bowling green. The adjoining pavilion has lots to offer the whole family with good catering facilities for birthday parties and already hosts indoor bowling, keep fit, dance classes and badminton clubs in the evenings. During the day it is available for meetings, seminars and group activities. For more info contact Kim Murray on 028 90340137.

Sandyknowes Park

This is a small town park with walkways, mature trees and a small play area for children aged 3 to 12. It is great for a quiet walk away from the busy roads of Sandyknowes roundabout.

The walkway circles the park and is great for a quick walk at lunch. In the evening the paths are well lit so you can get some exercise after work.

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 May 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.

At the War Memorial Park there is a mound on the left hand side which is a 13th – century Norman motte built as a defensive outpost of Carrickfergus Castle. Soldiers reaching the ricer believed they had traveled six miles and began calling the river Six Mile Water.

Threemilewater 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.

In 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.

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 age 3 to 12 , 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.

Feeding The Ducks

Please do not feed the ducks bread as it is not beneficial for the birds’ digestive system and some breads do not provide the correct nutrients, particularly for growing chicks.

Gideons Green

Gideons Green offers some great bird watching opportunities over the Whitehouse Lagoon. Some of the more notable species are Great Crested Grebes, Redshanks, Oystercatchers, Dunlins, Curlews and Black-tailed Godwits which feed on the mudflats and roost on favoured parts of the shoreline during high tide.

You can walk or cycle from Gideons Green in to Belfast on the National Cycle Way. The route passes along the waterside of Belfast Lough right up to the Lagan Towpath.

Historical Fact – The monument placed in the centre of the Green commemorates Gideon Boonivert. Bonnivert was a Huguenot soldier whose diary recorded the landing near this site of the European army that accompanied William III to Ireland in 1690.