Laois park 'an embarrassment'
The People’s Park in Portarlington is “an embarrassment” in its current state, a local councillor said.
Sinn Fein Cllr Aidan Mullins queried delays to the upgrade of the park at a recent Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal meeting.
He asked in a motion “That Laois County Council give an update on the implementation of the People’s Park Master Plan in Portarlington.”
In response Denise Rainey of the council’s Community & Enterprise Section stated that: “A committee has established in Laois County Council to oversee the delivery of phase 3 of the People's Park Landscape Plan in Portarlington A grant of €500,000 was allocated to Laois County Council in respect of this project under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2022.
The initial work of the committee will involve the procurement of a landscape architect to provide a detailed design in respect of the works proposed in the park. Once a landscape architect has been appointed, a meeting will be arranged with the management committee of the People's Park to enable them to have an input into the detailed design stage. The project is being overseen by Town Regeneration Officer Denise Rainey.”
Cllr Mullins said a masterplan was produced last year yet no progress has been made.
“The state of the People’s Park is an embarrassment and should be an embarrassment for the council,” he said.
“It is going to be 2024 before we have it landscaped,” he added.
Independent Cllr Aisling Moran said she agreed with Cllr Mullins.