Anger over six year wait to upgrade Kildare public park

Kildare County Council has been criticised for the delay in coming up with a plan to upgrade Monread Park.

A masterplan for improvements to the popular facility was first mooted in 2018.

Almost three years ago KCC pointed to pressures created by other projects such as the amenity lands at Sallins and  the conservation plan for Oldtown Demesne (which has opened up to the public).

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KCC official Simon Wallace said then that the scale of the projects to be delivered is increasing and some staff have to combine a large project list with “an ever increasing volume” of operational works.

At a Naas Municipal District committee meeting, Mr Wallace design and implementation works are still required in Sallins. 

“Similarly in De Burghs Woodland Garden (Oldtown Demesne) more works are required to open the remainder of the garden. Regarding Kerdiffstown Park works are still ongoing in relation to implementing maintenance schedules to maintain and manage the park where a grant has been awarded for additional facilities including a basketball court.”

He also said there have been requests also for works at Naas Lakes and for a playground in Ballymore Eustace. These projects will require progression before Monread Park can be considered and it’s “likely to be the later part of this year at the earliest before work on it can be considered.”

However, Cllr Evie Sammon said the masterplan is being talked about for a number of years now.

She said existing facilities like the park need to be addressed before new projects are progressed further.