Playground progress
Kilcullen has high hopes of finally getting a playground after two years of work by the Kilcullen Playground Committee. A proposal to site the playground between Scoil Bhríde National School and Kilcullen Community Centre has been agreed in principle by both parties, as it uses land from each.
As the plans involve changing the entrance to the Community Centre from its current position on the Newbridge Road to the Cnoc na Gréine Road, agreement is also needed from the Roads Department of Kildare County Council. Broad agreement has been given for this, so the Playground Committee is now only waiting confirmation from Leisure Services in the Council that it agrees to the plan and will fund the Playground and associated infrastructural works.
The committee are absolutely thrilled that Fr Andrew from Scoil Bhríde is happy to put this proposal to the Board of the School and owners of the land, which is the Dublin Diocese.
We understand the pressure schools are under and appreciate the gesture they are making. There simply will not be a playground without them as we have spent two years looking for a site but have had no success up to now. We firmly believe this is a win-win situation for everyone.
The provision of the playground will have to include badly needed upgrading of the car-parking and access facilities to the Community Centre. This will hugely improve the safety for everyone, especially children being dropped to both the national and secondary schools, either by car, bus or walking.
The plan also incorporates an upgrading of the junction at the exits from the Castlemartin and Cnoc na Gréine Estates and the Newbridge Road. The Community Centre currently exits virtually onto the same junction. There is often traffic chaos in this area, especially during peak school times, making it dangerous for children and parents getting to and from local schools.
The current Community Centre entrance will be closed and the road incorporated into school grounds and land for the Playground. A new entrance will be opened halfway up the Cnoc na Gréine Road. This road will eventually extend into a relief road, linking up to the Athy Road through the industrial estate currently under construction. Appropriate traffic-calming and pedestrian measures are also in the plans.
This is the second proposal we have put to the various parties, but the first time we’ve had agreement in principle from everyone. As an entirely voluntary group that needed technical maps to present our proposals, we wouldn’t have got this far without the assistance of Kilcullen Community Action, and one of their members, JJ Warren.
We are also lucky enough to have a vibrant group of young mothers, all new residents, with a clatter of kids between us, at least four of which have been born in the time since the group started. We want facilities in the town for our kids, and a bit like them, we’re not too prepared to take no for an answer. We also acknowledge local politicians support for the group, particularly Willie Callaghan.
The Playground Committee is hopeful of a favourable answer from the Leisure Services Department of the Council, which has the budget for provision of playgrounds.
Council officials have been supportive of our work to date, and say the biggest challenge was getting a site as the Council didn’t have money to buy land. We are now very close to achieving this as we have a viable proposal. Success will depend on their giving tangible backing to our proposal, which in effect means getting the cheque book out.
The Committee intends to keep the pressure on all parties to have this proposal fully agreed as quickly as possible. Following that, we expect the playground could be designed within a matter of weeks, with construction taking place during the summer months when schools are closed.
Orla O'Neill
Chairperson, Playground Committee.
