For plans to create a 'Friends of Ward Park' group have been approved by North Down's councillors ahead of initial moves to upgrade the treasured local facility.
The move repeats one which was taken ahead of the recent highly successful revamp of a neighbouring local beauty spot - the walled garden through a 'Friends of the Walled Garden' group.
The decision to endeavour to do the same for Ward Park was agreed by councillors at a recent meeting of their environmental services committee.
They backed a recommendation in a council report to their committee that they create a 'Friends of Ward Park Group' ahead of the proposed redesign of the park.
The report heralded one of the biggest successes of the Bangor Castle Walled Garden project as the creation of the 'Friends of...' group.
It added, "Participants of this group not only contributed ideas and opinions during the initial design stage but many continued to play a part in subsequent events and marketing of the garden.
"With the potential for initial investigation/design works being considered for Ward Park during 2014, officers believed that it would be appropriate to instigate a 'Friends of Ward Park' group.
"That would act as a single conduit for communication and consultation during the investigative works.
"The use of the single conduit principle allowed council to interact with just one body rather than accommodating a much larger grouping of minor interested parties.
"The group would also be utilised to ensure community support and involvement and to enable council to manage public expectation."
The report concluded that it had not yet been decided when would be the most appropriate time to create the new group.
Councillors then approved the foundation of a 'Friends of Ward Park' group to accommodate 'communication and consultation' during the investigations into the redevelopment of the park.
The proposal was made by Ulster Unionist Ellie McKay and seconded by her party colleague James McKerrow.