Days Out NI
Play Park Derry

Ballyarnet Country Park

A free aeroplane-themed playground on the field where Amelia Earhart landed.

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Open dailyOpen daily, daylight hours
FreeNo charge
DerryPlay Park
Get directions
2 hoursHow long
Toddlers to roughly 11Best for
FreeEntry
FreeParking
OutdoorsSetting

Ballyarnet Country Park — A free aeroplane-themed playground on the field where Amelia Earhart landed.

  • What's there: Fenced playground with aeroplane climber, toddler and junior kit, lakes, wetland walks, Earhart cottage.
  • Best for: Toddlers to roughly 11; separate zones for little and big kids.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Parking: Free parking on site.
  • Toilets: None on site, go before you arrive.
  • Dogs: Welcome on leads on the wider park paths.
Plan your visit

Three age zones, one fenced playground

The play area is enclosed by 2.4m fencing with self-closing gates, so little ones can run without you holding your breath. Inside, the equipment splits into a toddler section, a junior section and tougher kit for the more adventurous older children. It is surfaced in natural Enviromulch, softer underfoot than tarmac. The natural-timber theme is built around an aeroplane, the Earhart link the kids climb on without even knowing the history. Toilets are the gap here, there are none on site, so plan for that before you set off.

Free entry Aeroplane climber Fenced and gated Toddler to senior kit Lakes and walks Earhart heritage site
Good to know before you go:

Council country parks like this one often host seasonal fun days, Halloween trails and Christmas events through the year. It is worth checking what is on locally before you head out, especially around the May anniversary of the Earhart landing.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🧥LayersOutdoor play — a coat or spare jumper covers every kind of weather.
  • 💧Water & snacksKeeps the energy up between climbs and runs about.
  • 🧻Wipes & hand gelFor sandy, muddy, ice-cream-covered hands.
  • 🛴Scooter or ballLots of flat path and green space to burn off more energy.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Free
Opening
Open daily, daylight hours
Best for ages
Toddlers to roughly 11; separate zones for little and big kids
What's there
Fenced playground with aeroplane climber, toddler and junior kit, lakes, wetland walks, Earhart cottage
Toilets
None on site, go before you arrive
Parking
Free parking on site
Dogs
Welcome on leads on the wider park paths
Accessibility
Fenced play area with self-closing gates for all abilities; parts of the wider site have steep steps
How long to allow
1 to 2 hours, or a half-day with a picnic and a walk
Address
Ballyarnett Country Park, Racecourse Road, Derry, BT48 8BR
Questions

Before you go

Is it free to get in?
Free
Is there parking?
Free parking on site
Are there toilets?
None on site, go before you arrive
What ages is it best for?
Toddlers to roughly 11; separate zones for little and big kids
Can we bring the dog?
Welcome on leads on the wider park paths
Getting there

Ballyarnet Country Park is at Ballyarnett Country Park, Racecourse Road, Derry, BT48 8BR. Free parking on site. Tap below for turn-by-turn directions.

Directions on Google Maps See it on our map
Nearby

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The story

About the park

On 21 May 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly the Atlantic solo. She set off from Newfoundland aiming for Paris, but ice, strong winds and a mechanical fault forced her down after just under 15 hours. Her plane came to rest in a field on the farm of Robert Gallagher, just north of Derry, the place now known as Ballyarnett.

The country park keeps that history alive. The Amelia Earhart cottage stands near the landing spot, and the playground's aeroplane theme is a quiet tribute to it. The park itself runs to around 32 acres of glacial lakes, wetland and peat bog, managed by Derry City and Strabane District Council as open green space for families.