Revamp sought for busy playground in Kildare
The presence of litter and human waste at the playground was criticised by a local councillor
A number of local representatives have urged Kildare County Council (KCC) to revamp a popular playground.
The subject was raised by three separate councillors at the latest Celbridge-Leixlip Municipal District meeting, which took place on Friday, July 17 last.
It initially arose when Labour Party Cllr Rupert Heather motioned for KCC to carry out ‘short-term improvements’ to the playground at Willowbrook Park in Celbridge, ‘while the wider masterplan for the park is being developed and executed’.
He added: “Given that Willowbrook is Celbridge's only major public playground and is heavily used by families from across the town, the council should prioritise upgrades to play equipment, seating, surfacing and other facilities where needed.”
Cllr Heather’s motion was also taken alongside two similar questions listed in the meeting’s agenda about the potential expansion of the playground.
These questions were submitted by Social Democrats Cllr Claire O’Rourke and Fine Gael Cllr Paul Brooks respectively.
In response to Cllr Heather’s motion, KCC said via the report it presented at the meeting: “The surfacing in the playground was replaced last year.
“Repair of the communications sign and replacement of an accessible toddler swing will be arranged in the next four-to-six weeks.”
KCC also said: “All other equipment in the playground has been inspected, and upgrades or repairs are not considered necessary.”
Moreover, KCC emphasised that there is no potential to expand the playground, ‘due to the need for safety zones around the existing equipment’, and therefore there are also no plans for works at the playground.
LITTER AND HUMAN WASTE
Following this, Cllr David Trost (who was elected as the new Mayor of the Municipal District earlier in the meeting), expressed support for the sentiments from the other three councillors.
He also criticised the presence of litter in the region, and even claimed that some people had been using the playground ‘as a public lavatory’.
Turning to speak directly to representatives of KCC, Mayor Trost said: “We really need to concentrate on revamping the playground as soon as possible.”
Furthermore, Cllr O’Rourke suggested that a new playground should be constructed for the town, due to its growing population. This sentiment was echoed by Cllr Brooks.
This prompted KCC official Simon Wallace, who is KCC’s Acting Senior Parks and Landscaping Officer, to inform the councillors that there is currently no masterplan being planned for the playground for this year.
However, he emphasised that he agreed with the councillors that the playground needs a revamp.
Mr Wallace added: “We are going to work on it, but it will take a period of time.”
He also pointed out that, in the meantime, some housing estates in the town have playgrounds located within them.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme