Woman’s playground drive pays dividends

A NORTHSIDE woman’s determination to get playgrounds built for her children and others in the community has paid dividends.

Eighteen months ago, mum-of-four, Marica Killi, from Lios Cain, Swords, wrote a letter to Fingal County Council asking why there was a serious lack of playgrounds for such a largely populated town.

The council informed Ms Killi that it tried to build a number of playgrounds in the area a few years back but was thwarted.

“The communities opposed them as they wanted them to be built on the greens, so the money was used elsewhere,

? Marica told Northside People.

“At the present time, the council didn’t have a budget to build playgrounds.

“I was advised to find out what the rest of the local community thought, so I put out a petition in local shops and spoke to parents. In two weeks we had 800 signatures.

?

The Swords Needs Playgrounds group was duly born and they handed in the petition at an area council meeting and spoke to all the local councillors.

“After this meeting we met Fingal County Council officials and discussed our needs and also possible sites for the playgrounds,

? said Marica.

“We then applied for planning permission.

?

Marica said a large number of local residents contacted their councillors to let them know that they wanted these playgrounds to go ahead.

Planning permission was granted for playgrounds at two locations – Swords Manor and Applewood.

According to Marica, it took approximately a year to get the project to this stage.

“We then formed a committee where nine local mums organised various events to get the fundraising for these projects underway,

? she said.

“Fingal County Council offered 25 per cent of the total cost, we applied to Fingal Leader Partnership for another 64 per cent of the funding, and we set about raising the remainder.

“In six months we hit our total e250,000 and this was largely down to the fantastic spirit of the committee and local community and businesses who rallied together to raise the money.

?

The playground at Swords Manor opened recently, and an all-weather football pitch is due to open shortly. Meanwhile, construction work is due to begin soon at the playground at Applewood.

Marica is hoping that the many families in the area will benefit from having a safe play facility within walking distance of their homes.

“We also hope that the local community will help to look after the new facilities,

? she added.

Swords ward councillor Darragh Butler (FF) congratulated Marica and the other members of the Swords Needs Playground Group for showing great community drive and initiative and helping to make the dream become reality.

Cllr Butler also praised Fingal Leader Partnership and Fingal County Council for their contributions.

Local man Tom Byrne, who was involved in the Swords Needs Playgrounds campaign, has urged parents of older children to teach them about respecting the playgrounds.

“We hope that parents can talk to them about not vandalising these facilities but looking after them so that they will be here for many years to come,

? he said.