Little used Kildare parklet has cost well over €50,000 and will be moved again
A new pedestrian crossing is planned in the area
An underused parklet in Naas town centre has cost in excess of €50,000 - but the public have not warmed to the concept.
The parklet, an outdoor seating structure, was first located at North Main Street, roughly opposite Fletcher’s pub.
But it was moved to Dublin Road after some local people, business operators and politicians complained about it.
Four years ago, the parklet did not enhance the town’s appearance and “people have said to me that it is a skip.”
She said she had received many complaints adding “it’s on the road and it will give rise to health and safety issues.”
Cllr Breen said it would not promote tourism to Naas and “we’re kidding ourselves if we think it will.”
She called for greater public consultation especially given that five car park spaces have been lost to the town and she said barriers at the side mean that people don’t know that it is open.
However, Cllr Fintan Brett countered that it is a “fabulous idea” to encourage people to sit out and have a coffee as well as creating more space in the area.
Cllr Bill Clear was also in favour and opposed the idea of moving it.
“It looks nice, some people like it and some don’t (and) it will always be controversial to close a couple of parking spaces,” said Cllr Clear.
Former Green Party councillor Bob Quinn said a plan by Kildare County Council for a new pedestrian crossing at Meadows and Byrne will involve removing the public parklet outside Paddy Electronics.
Mr Quinn said the cost of removing the parklet from outside Grá in 2023 and relocating it on the Dublin Road was around €16,000. A Naas Municipal District meeting was told that the cost of the parklet was €30,500, not including VAT. The cost of moving it and carrying out repairs was put at a total of €22,000 by KCC itself three years ago.
Mr Quinn has said that the new pedestrian crossing is in the wrong place on Dublin Road, and “should instead be located outside Barry Lawlor's Optometrists next door to The Stables restaurant.”
Mr Quinn canvassed support to encourage KCC to change the location of the crossing. The KCC plan is for a signal-controlled pedestrian crossing (with push button units) and the works include removing the parklet, relocating bicycle stands, tactile paving, and road lining.