Public consultation for major park development in Kildare

Kildare County Council is to hold a non-statutory public consultation event on Tuesday April 8 2025.

The purpose of the event is to allow the public to view the proposed works for the provision of a Liffey Valley Park between Celbridge Bridge, Celbridge and St Catherine's Park, Leixlip, which would extend along c.6.35km of the River Liffey.

Kildare County Council is working with JBA Consulting Limited to prepare a project feasibility study for a park on this section of the River Liffey.

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A public survey completed in December 2024 received around 900 responses, showing how important this area is to those living near this stretch of the River Liffey.

The project aims to provide a recreational trail that links a “string-of-pearls” along the River Liffey.

The Liffey Valley Parks Strategy (2006) presents a vision for access opportunities to a “necklace” of (mainly) public lands along the River Liffey, to provide for the recreational needs of the area and help to conserve the biodiversity and amenity value of the river corridor.

If delivered, this would be the first phase of a potentially wider Liffey Valley Park within County Kildare.

The project is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development’s Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), which provides for the detailed development of projects with the objective of providing for new outdoor recreational infrastructure and/or enhancement of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure, to contribute to healthy active lifestyles.

It also supports the economic and tourism potential of the area for both local communities and tourist visitors alike.

There are many project partners that own land on this stretch of the River Liffey, including the ESB, Uisce Eireann, Kildare County Council and the Office of Public Works at Castletown House.

Community input

The project is now at the ‘options’ stage and Kildare County Council is seeking further input from the community to help shape the project as it progresses towards the selection of a preferred option.

The ‘drop-in’ event in Celbridge Library (W23 VA47) provides the opportunity for members of the public to review the options and submit comments and suggestions, which the Council will review and consider to inform the selection of a preferred project option.