It has been almost nine years since new playgrounds were first mooted for Renmore.
The Galway City Council will tender for new designs for a green space masterplan for Renmore next month. It has already established a framework panel of multi-disciplinary consultants, including amenity engineers, architects and pitch designers for the project.
Previous plans had cited a mixture of recreational infrastructure including playgrounds, a bowling green and skate park on the green space opposite the Kingfisher gym, bordered by Renmore Avenue, Rowan Avenue and Ballyloughan Road. The scheme included tree planting to screen the amenities from nearby housing, and a new zebra crossing opposite Renmore Community Centre.
It is understood €12,000 from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is put aside for Renmore playgrounds, but the Council’s masterplan will cost at least ten times this figure.
Galway City East councillor Terry O’Flaherty (Ind ) met with officials last month to discuss the latest plans. “They don’t want to be specific on where the playground is going, because that hasn’t been decided yet,” she noted.
The council says the Renmore masterplan project is funded and is currently in procurement phase. The next stage is services design, then final design, then construction and handover.
“We have to get it right. We have to get the locations right, we have to engage with the local community – especially residents around the green spaces. Community engagement will be a big part of this.,” said Sharon Connolly, Galway City Council senior engineer with responsibility for Parks, Sports and Recreation.
It is understood plans for a skate park have been quietly shelved after concerns about anti-social behaviour were communicated to council officials by local residents two years ago. Instead, a MUGA play area (multi-use games area ) is envisaged.
This translates as vandal-proof, fenced in areas, often designed with soccer posts, basketball hoops, hockey goals and tennis and volleyball markings. They are considered ideal for safe play areas in urban areas, and to reduce antisocial behaviour. They have been criticised for visual impact and noise, depending on the materials used.
