Designs for a new recreation park in Rushen have been unveiled.

Ratepayers are being invited by Arbory and Rushen Commissioners to give their views on the proposed Ballakilley Park.

The first phase of the scheme is expected to cost about £150,000 and is to be funded partly from reserves and charitable sources.

Laid out over two connected sites, the proposed park will be bordered by the Ballakilley estate, Rushen cemetery and Southern Nomads’ new rugby pitch.

It will feature a sculpture trail, adventure play area, bandstand, nature garden, picnic area, running track and dog agility zone.

Arbory and Rushen clerk Phil Gawne said that the go-ahead for the scheme was not based on any deal with Port Erin to settle the boundary dispute on the Ballakilley estate.

Port Erin applied to take the whole of the estate under its control but Rushen then made a tit-for-tat application to bring all homes within its parish.

Mr Gawne said that Port Erin Commissioners offered to withdraw its boundary extension application if Rushen agreed to talks about the possible merger of all southern authorities.

’Both Arbory and Rushen have agreed to talks, about three months ago now, so we’re waiting to hear from Port Erin on how they wish to proceed,’ he said.

He said Arbory and Rushen have £40,000 in reserves for the Ballakilley Park project and are hoping to get more from charitable sources.

The plans, which are based on views and comments that have previously been submitted, are available to view on the Commissioners’ notice boards throughout the two parishes, and online on the Commissioners’ website and Facebook pages. Commissioners want to carry out a further period of consultation with interested parties before moving ahead to the next stage of the project.

Comments can be emailed to [email protected] or [email protected], or by contacting any commissioner.

The closing date for the consultation on the plans is Friday, July 10.