Playground progress

Kilcullen Playground Committee reported very good news at its recent meeting about a children’s playground for the area.

Preliminary talks have taken place between the school authorities in Scoil Bhríde and officials in Kildare Co Council in relation to a site on school grounds, which would be accessed through the Kilcullen Community Centre. The proposed site is visible from the Centre, has adequate parking and would be very convenient to people bringing their children to school or other activities in the Community Centre grounds.

The local Playground Committee has looked at various sites over the past 10 months, and is delighted the one deemed most suitable would seem to be available. Playground Committee Chairperson, Orla O’Neill said, “As I understand it, Scoil Bhríde is prepared to seriously consider transferring this site if proper infrastructure is put in. This would involve constructing a new exit road from the Community Centre grounds on the boundary between the national and secondary schools. There would then be a separate entrance and exit road. Even as it currently stands, this would be a great enhancement to the Community Centre – there can be serious bottlenecks there at any time of the day, not just school times.”

Orla went on to say the Playground Committee had almost reached the end of its tether trying to get a suitable and available site for the playground. She recalled more experienced members of the community outlining how they had tried several times over the years to get a playground, but to no avail.

“I really thought we were doomed to failure until this window was opened up by Scoil Bhríde. They are being very generous in proposing a possible donation of the site in return for road infrastructure, which will benefit the entire community, not just the school. We fully support their proposal and encourage those with any influence in the Council to bring this forward as soon as possible”.

The Committee is now urging people to contact their local representatives to push for the proposal to be brought forward. A lobbying and information campaign is being implemented in the coming weeks, and the Committee is certain that local pressure will ensure the Council doesn’t let this opportunity slip through their fingers. Audrey Farrell, the Committee’s secretary, who is co-coordinating the information campaign said, “it’s extremely important people send letters and make phone calls to their local reps on this issue as there’s huge pressure in the County from other towns and villages for a playground. If we don’t make our case very loudly, we could lose out on this occasion.”

Kilcullen Playground Committee meets once a month in the Community Centre and all are welcome. As well as identifying suitable locations for the playground and facilitating progress, the Committee is also working on design ideas. They are hoping a creative approach to the final design will be taken, and feel it is extremely important the playground will be accessible and suitable for children with special needs. Anyone who is interested in this work can contact Orla O’Neill at 480988.