Kildare playground will have to wait until 2026 for upgrades

A Fianna Fáil councillor has asked the council to provide an update on proposed improvement works on a playground in Clane, Co Kildare.

Thanking the council for its report - given at a recent meeting of Clane Maynooth Municipal District – Cllr Daragh Fitzpatrick said he had received several communications from residents in Clane regarding upgrading the playground in Clane.

He said he put his question forward to see if councillors could help in that regard, whether that be through LPT funding or from another source of revenue.

READ NEXT: Aontú plans annual 'Think-In' at Kildare hotel

To his knowledge, he said, the playground in Clane was installed “around 2008”, and was one of the first playgrounds in the county.

For that reason, he suggested, it deserves an upgrade at this stage.

Cllr Fitzpatrick said that when one looks at other playgrounds around the county, there is no comparison with the playground in Clane, which he said is in need of an upgrade.

A report from the council stated that a number of repair and upgrade work have been carried out this year to the playground in Clane.

Repair and upgrade works have been carried out to the benches in the playground, the report stated, and parts and timber supports on the pirate ship are due to be replaced.

Similarly, the swings have had repairs carried out and the removal of branches interfering with them.

The rubber surface has been repaired, and all equipment has been power-washed three times.

The report also highlighted additional upgrade works identified by the council to upgrade the playground.

These works include:

• Installation of new ‘wetpour’ safety play surface throughout the playground.

• The replacement of the existing multiplay pirate ship, which is nearing the end of its life.

• Installation of accessible street furniture including signage, seating areas and picnic tables that are age friendly and wheelchair accessible.

• Replacement of existing boundary treatment to include both soft and hard elements to ensure site and user security and to include planting to encourage biodiversity.

• Incorporation of sheltered seating area inclusive of a teen space, outside of children’s play space to encourage social interaction and inclusion for all age groups.

According to the council, the estimated cost of these works is €150,000 and a budget to carry these out needs to be identified.

The report concluded by stating that the works “would have to be considered for 2026.”