'Preferred' site revealed for new playground in Limerick suburb

A SITE in Caherdavin has been selected as the “preferred option” for a new playground.

That’s according to Cllr Olivia O’Sullivan, who said Limerick City and County Council has “identified a location that they’re happy to progress with” from a number of sites examined in the area.

The location is the green area in front of the Caherdavin Shopping Centre by the Derravarragh Road bus stop, just off the Ennis Road.

As a mother of young children, Ms O’Sullivan said the lack of playground facilities in Caherdavin area is one of the reasons that made her want for the elections in the first place.

She explained: “The initial €100,000 for this project was GMA funding agreed by the councillors of Limerick City North who backed my playground proposal. I want to thank them for their support to get it off the ground. I have so far successfully secured €410,000 for the project, with the additional monies coming from the Development Contribution Scheme.”

Ms O’Sullivan said that the project has been underway for several years. “The Council and I were working together to look at all the locations in the area to see what would be the most suitable. And some locations seem very obvious, but then they won't have sufficient parking, or they don't have sufficient accessibility,” she added.

According to her, the site was examined by engineers and rated in terms of suitability, accessibility, parking, safety and security, feasibility, and cost.

She has confirmed that any plan designed at this point will contain a fenced-in playground with opening and closing times, so it is locked up at night, just like in Shelbourne Park and other Council-managed playgrounds in the city.

“This has been a concern for residents when a playground is discussed for the area, but I want to reassure people that it will be secured,” Ms O’Sullivan pointed out.

“I'm just anxious for there to be a shovel in the ground as soon as possible,” she concluded.