Playground Working Group formed

A Working Group to further efforts for the provision of a community playground in Kilcullen has been set up, following a presentation by Cross & Passion College Transition Year Students last night.

Under the project title 'The Play is the Thing', the students had researched the requirements, funding availibility, equipment suitability and costs, and looked at a similar facility.

The project was entered in the Young Social Innovators programme, which has been the subject of RTE radio broadcasts all this week. It will join others in two days of judging, beginning today at City West.

Opening proceedings in the Heritage Centre last night, CPC assistant principal Noel Clare reminded those present that a similar CPC project two years ago had identified the need for a Youth Club in Kilcullen, leading to the reformation of the Foroige Club.

"The aim of tonight's public meeting is to get a group of adults and students together to progress the idea further," he added.

In the course of their presentation, the students reported how they met with County Mayor Billy Hillis and found that Kildare County Council would support the venture.

Hannah Duffin noted that funding was available because the Council had received levies on the housing developments in Kilcullen for such purposes.

"The town has almost tripled in population over the last few years," she said.



Lacey Mullins spoke of the group's search for a site, and though none has yet been acquired, the general favoured location is in the environs of the Community Complex.

Niall Linwood told the meeting how the group had visited the KCC playground located beside Newbridge Sports Centre, said to be a model of how such facilities should be built.

A survey of children in Scoil Bhride indicated that almost all would like to have such a playground with — among other things — swings, slides, crazy golf and a carousel.

Marie Nolan reported how the group had contacted equipment suppliers and, following a perusal of their brochures, had come up with a suggested equipment list of their own.

The cost of the suggested equipment came to €54,276, Leanne Toft reported.

In a discussion following the presentation, Noel Clare noted that the most positive element of the project was that the Council was fully behind the effort.

"This wouldn't have been the case five years ago, when councils were against being involved in such facilities. But now they are being directed by Government policy to set up such playgrounds."

He added that the playground land, when acquired, would have to be vested with the Council in some form, to cope with insurance and other requirements.

J J Warren figured that the site development costs could be in the region of €150,000. "But the Council's budget is probably in excess of that," he suggested.

The estimate is that the proposed Kilcullen facility would be the same size as in Newbridge, around 1,000 sq m.

Noel Clare made it clear to the meeting that there was as yet no site acquired, or under negotiation. "But I think that with the right approach, there could be one."

All the students at last night's presentation said they would be interested in continuing with the development of the project.

The adults in the Working Group include Brian and Helen Brown, Kerstin Bartels-Shortt, Audrey Farrell, Julie O'Donoghue, Eileen Doyle, Orla O'Neill, Imelda Pembroke, J J Warren and Evelyn O'Sullivan.

A date for another meeting was set as Tuesday May 17 at 8pm, in the Community Complex.

Pictured below are some of the project members, who include Hannah Duffin, Lacey Mullins, Marie Nolan, Ciara O'Dwyer, Leanne Toft, and Jane Kelly.



— Brian Byrne.