*Photograph: John Mangan
ADDITIONAL playgrounds are needed across Ennis and surrounding areas, elected representatives have said
In a proposal before the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) asked that “a comprehensive review be undertaken to identify potential sites for additional playgrounds across Ennis and its surrounding areas”.
She outlined, “While we are fortunate to have playgrounds like the one on the Fairgreen and another in Clarecastle, there is a significant lack of facilities for a population of over 30,000. The Fair Green playground is a twenty to thirty minute walk for many residents and is often very busy”.
During the canvass for the local elections, she said “the significant shortage of easily accessible playgrounds was highlighted on many doorsteps. Investing in the development of additional playgrounds will not only provide children with opportunities for physical activity and social interaction, but also strengthen the fabric of our neighbourhoods”.
Acting senior executive engineer in the Ennis MD, Paddy Tiernan flagged that there are four playgrounds within the town of Ennis. “These are located within Tim Smythe Park, Cloughleigh, Lees Road and Coote Park. These facilities were developed on Council owned lands, and are managed, maintained, and operated by Clare Co Council as part of Active Ennis. These playgrounds are the only council owned playgrounds within County Clare with all other playgrounds having been developed by Community Groups”.
He said that planning permission exists for a playground within Park Avenue estate opposite Dunnes Stores. “In 2023 Ennis MD submitted a funding application to the Department of Rual and Community Development under the Community Recognition Fund to the value of €160,000 in order to construct this playground. Unfortunately, our application was unsuccessful and the project remains without a funding source. We will contain to examine and explore all other potential funding avenues in order to deliver this project”. He confirmed that a review to identify further additional sites will be conducted.
Director of Service in the Social Development directorate of the Council, Jason Murphy stated, “The opportunity to develop a playground is generally based on an understood need, the necessary lead group/agency (who will also manage the facility), the availability of suitable sites and ultimately in sourcing funding. The county (outside Ennis) is well served with a range of excellent community-led playgrounds that are owned, operated, managed, and insured by the Community Playground Committee who apply for grant support under the Clare Local Area Grants Scheme”.
Murphy said youth-focused activity spaces and playgrounds currently in the town include the children’s playground, multi-use game area and teen activity playground all located at Tim Smythe Park, the Friends Together Playground in Cloughleigh, the Rainbow Park Playground in Coote Park, Lees Rd Children’s playground and the skateboard park at Lees Rd. “The provision of additional social infrastructure in the town is always welcome. In order to achieve this, community engagement and activation is key so that the need and desire (particularly in relation to specific location) for a local facility is understood and accepted by the community as a whole”.
Speaking at the Ennis MD meeting, Cllr Baker Bashua commented, “It is such a pity that we don’t have more facilities for our youth”. She added, “it would be great in the future to have an overview on where we could set up more community playgrounds in the future”. She added, “we are trying to get children out of the house so everything helps, if there’s a playground within walking distance it would double the amount of people using it”.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) noted that Tim Smythe Park, Cloughleigh and Lees Rd are situated on one side of Ennis and thus so are a lot of the facilities, “it didn’t happen by design”. He said, “we have one in Clarecastle but people have to drive to Clarecastle to get down safely because you wouldn’t let children cross the roundabout in Clareabbey, there is a huge population base by Éire Óg, the Kilrush Rd and St Flannan’s College”.
Appeals for a workshop to be held to give councillors a better understanding was sought by Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle (SF). “I’ve seen marvellous work done in my own community of Clarecastle to get a playground”. Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) said he supported the addition of any new playground, “All of us that have a family spent a lot of time at a playground and found it extremely enjoyable”.
Room exists for another playground, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) insisted. “The playgrounds we have are all busy but there is room for more, massive population around Roslevan and Corrovorrin and a huge populaton by St Flannan’s College”.
Mayor of the Ennis MD, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) stated, “We are a growing town, we need to plan for the future growth that is imminent, we have gone from a population of 23,000 in Ennis to 28,000, the projection to 37,000 by 2040 which I think is an underestimation”. Cllr Mary Howard (FG) added, “it makes a huge difference to people when you have a place to bring smallies to burn off steam”.
