Alexandra Park is a Victorian park situated in north Belfast.[1] It is named after Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and was opened in 1888.[1] As is typical for parks of the period, it has a formal layout that includes tree lined avenues.[1] It also contains play areas for children.[2]
Alexandra Park is believed to be the only park in western Europe to be divided by a three-metre (10') wall.[3] The barrier was erected in 1994 and is one of a number of "peace walls" built across the city in attempt to prevent violence between Nationalist/Republican and Unionist/Loyalist communities.[3] The wall's foundations were laid on 1 September 1994, the day of the first IRA ceasefire.[4] The northern part of the park was accessible only from the Antrim Road whilst the southern part could only be reached from the Shore Road.[5] In September 2011 a gate linking the two communities was installed in the wall. The gate was initially open on weekdays from 9am to 3pm for a trial period of 3 months.[3]