Monread District Parks Committee submission
TO: Naas Urban District Council
FROM: Monread District Parks Committee
Conor McGarry - Chairman
George Boyd - Secretary
John Kavanagh
DATE: 21st November 2000
The Park Committee’s aim is to work in partnership with Naas UDC to develop the park for the benefit of all the people of Naas and to provide a formal consultative link to the residents adjacent to the park. area.
Our reason for requesting this meeting, at this time of year, is that we wish to ensure that the UDC, when framing the estimates for 2001, is aware of the issues, that in our view, need to be addressed as a mater of priority in relation to the further development /maintenance of the Park area. These issues are detailed below. We have not estimated the cost of the elements identified but would be of the view that a significant provision in the estimates for 2001 (excluding the cost of developing a playground which we understand is being provided for separately) would be necessary to ensure that at least some, if not all of the development we see as being essential can be undertaken over the next twelve months.
The park offers social and health benefits to the people of Naas and it indeed raises the profile of Naas UDC. Public parks are becoming a pre-requisite in all urban areas an increasingly are becoming a focus of central Government policy as highlighted at appendix A. The commitments now being made by Government in relation to the provision of amenity facilities presents opportunities to seek funding for further development of the park in the future. The commitment made mow to the development of the park by the UDC could well have a bearing on the success of any future request for funding from the Exchequer.
From consulting / making contact with residents of the immediate area surrounding the park and others nearby we have attempted to gather a consensus opinion on its development.
1. Playground
The Committee is delighted with the commitment made in October by the UDC to spend £100k on the development of the first playground in Naas, which, we understand, will be located in the Monread Park. We hope this will be the model upon other playgrounds will be built in the environs.
The preferred location for this playground is dictated by the need for associated parking nearby. The would mean close to either of the two public access points to the park, at Morrell or adjacent to the leisure centre. The committee would prefer the entrance adjacent to the leisure centre and the playground to be located within easy reach.
2. Parking Facilities
The park will be a facility for all the residents of Naas not just those adjacent to it. It can be anticipated therefore that people in the town will travel to the park in their cars. The provision of parking facilities to avoid congestion in adjoining residential areas is seen as essential. The main entrance to the park would appear to be positioned adjacent to the leisure centre and this would seem the logical place to place such a facility. Certain controls in relation to access would have to be put in place to ensure the parking area is used for its intended purpose only.
3. Security
As substantial sums have been and will be committed to the development/ maintenance of the park it is vital to protect it from damage.
(a) Enclosure / CCTV Cameras
The only guaranteed method of securing the park and any property (playground) therein is to enclose it by a wall / fence structure which would be locked in the evening. We recognise however that there is a need to balance access between those who wish to use the park for pleasure and enjoyment for themselves and their families by day, vandals / others who need to be deterred from accessing it at night and those residents who would wish to use the park as a throughway both day and night. We are aware of proposals for the establishment of CCTV’s in the town and perhaps this might be extended to the park area to protect the towns investment and to provide some element of security for those who would choose to use it as a throughway at night time.
(b) Lighting
The provision of adequate lighting at key points in the park area would be a significant step towards providing a secure environment throughout the evening and would act as a deterrent to those who would either use the park as a base for anti social behaviour.
(c) Anti Vehicle Walls
Alongside the leisure centre there is a small wall approx 2 feet in height, which stops vehicles gaining access to the park. As the athletic track on the Caragh road suffered from not having a similar barrier it would be prudent to give consideration to extending this barrier to all access points. Currently even where at the end of cul de sacs adjoining the park wooden bollards have been erected vehicles can still be driven on to the park area.
4. ESB Pylons
There is currently an ESB cable running over-ground from the leisure centre for approx 500 yards across the park, which then goes underground just before the estate called, the Park. This is a potential risk to the public (e.g. children flying kites) and an eyesore. It is essential that this cable is buried underground in the near future. To do so now may involve digging up paths, grass and hedgerow but at least it will not effect any development thereafter.
5. Park Amenities
Park benches, picnic tables, litterbins are worthwhile and reasonably low cost additions which would complement the existing park development.
6. Maintenance & Landscape Issues
(a) Drainage
There are areas of the park which even to date are prone to flooding during spells of wet weather. If allowed to persist those areas affected will not develop to the same extent as the rest of the park as they will be more liable to damage. While recognising the paths have improved significantly early remedial work in the affected areas is considered essential.
(b) Plants / Shrubs / Trees
There are a variety of flower / shrub beds in the park and there are a substantial number of creepers planted against the walls of the park. Overall, however the appearance is poor as the flowers / shrubbery planted to date have not been adequately maintained. We would recommend that where planting is done low maintenance planting should be used and/or it should be ensured that an appropriate programme of maintenance is undertaken.
The initial planting of trees was excellent. Unfortunately the absence of protection (eg meshing) meant that they were readily accessible to vandals. If the protection required or some security measures are not put in place the trees will continue to be exposed to vandals destroying them again.
In our view it would be worthwhile investing in further trees along some of the other paths.
(c) Screen Walls
The northern half of the park area (Morrell end) is surrounded by hedgerow and dashed walls, which blend in very well with the houses adjoining. In the southern half of the park two sides have hedgerow and two sides have bare or plastered walls. This gives a very dour look to the park. The two sides with bare walls are Oldtown estate built by Thoval and the leisure centre gymnasium /perimeter walls are built by Bresc. At most the planning permissions state that these walls are to be plastered only. The park would be a much more attractive feature if these walls could be finished off in dashing or red brick to blend in with the environs.
The above list of issues is not intended to be exhaustive as there are other amenities that we would see an appropriate to the park area as it is further developed. The issues we have identified are those that we see a priority at this stage of the parks development.
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Appendix A.
Excerpt from a speech by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, TD
At Launch of the National Children's Strategy
Monday 13 November 2000 at 11.00am
Play & Recreation
As well as emphasising the importance of their families, the children who took part in the consultation process talked a lot about play and recreation. This was an area which was given a much smaller role in the contributions of many adults. Responding to this, the Strategy includes a commitment to develop a National Play and Recreation Plan. This will involve developing plans at a local level to ensure that every child can have access to decent playgrounds, sportsfield’s and other facilities. The Plan will be developed through next year and we will establish a dedicated fund in order to implement it.
Extract Irish Times 03/11/00
"Lack of funds for parks and recreation criticised"
The Government has been urged to think again about the omission of a specific allocation for investment in parks and recreational facilities in the National Development Plan.
At its annual conference in Dublin yesterday, the Irish Landscape Institute criticised the Department of Finance for rejecting a recommendation by the ESRI that £250 million per year should be earmarked for social, cultural and recreational projects
The Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, said increasing development pressures meant there was an "urgent need" for a proper appraisal of Ireland's landscapes to "ensure that the environment and heritage are maintained in a sustainable manner".
He said a final set of guidelines for planning authorities on landscape assessment would be published early next year. The aim was to take a more proactive approach to assessing landscape character so that areas which could absorb development could be identified.