Big plans in place: Presentation of KCC's Parks Programme 2025 delivered to North Kildare Cllrs

A presentation by Kildare County Council (KCC) in relation to its 2025 Parks Programme for the Celbridge-Leixlip Municipal District (MD) was delivered to local councillors.

At the meeting, which took place on Friday, March 21 last, councillors representing the MD were asked to consider KCC's programme, and KCC also recapped the works it had carried out in the MD the previous year.

Simon Wallace, a KCC official, started the presentation off by outlining a review of works in the MD during 2024.

He explained that the car park near Leixlip Playground was completed, and that the old playground had been relocated.

Mr Wallace also said that the design of the new playground has also been completed, the works would begin in May or June. Following this, the playground would take "about 11 or 12 months to complete".

In addition, he said that the design of a sensory garden for St Catherine's Park.

Mr Wallace further said that the Celbridge Outdoor Youth Facility was currently in the Design and Consultation stages, and the Castletown Woods Consultation Plan was also on KCC's radar for 2025.

He also informed the councillors that grass maintenance was the biggest expense across the county.

Outlining the staff structure of KCC's Parks Department, Mr Wallace revealed that there were a number of vacant roles.

These roles include: Groundsman (who would report to the Operations and Projects division); Senior Staff Officer (who would report directly to Mr Wallace); Technician (who will report to the Planning and Projects division); and Executive Parks and Landscaping Officer (who would also report to the Planning and Projects division).

SECOND PRESENTATION

After Mr Wallace had concluded his presentation, Paula O'Rourke, KCC's Climate Action Co-ordinator, proceeded to detail KCC's Open Space Management plans.

She pointed out KCC's green science collaborations with Maynooth University and Terrain-AI, along with KCC's efforts to phase out the herbicide glyphosate. Ms O'Rourke also outlined KCC's involvement in the Grass 2 Gas programme, which relates to disposing of biogas in an environmentally friendly manner. 

According to Ms O'Rourke, KCC has been involved in this programme for the last five years.

In addition, she summarised a number of complex scientific experiments to the councillors.

These experiments were conducted in order to help KCC understand the best way to implement its environment preservation plans. One of these experiments, for example, examined the effects of glyphosate on vegetation and the soil microbiome.

She also told the representatives that the Grass 2 Gas programme would be discussed before the full council meeting on April 28, 2025.

Once Ms O'Rourke concluded presenting her slides of information, the councillors in attendance commended both Mr Wallace and Ms O'Rourke for their respective presentations.

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