St Cuthbert’s Park set to receive a €1.15m facelift

St Cuthbert’s Park in Bawnogue is set to be getting a €1.15m facelift following the approval from South Dublin County Council.

At this month’s council meeting, councillors voted to agree to the Part 8 proposal for the redevelopment of the park.

Included in the planned works, is an off-leash area for pets to exercise, natural and equipped playspaces for children, a multi-use games area with floodlighting, and a teenspace area with equipment and seating.

There will also be improved pitch facilities for Clondalkin Celtic FC who have been “instrumental” in creating a sense of active participation in the park over the past number of years.

The proposal is following on from the discussions held by the High Level Task Force (HLTF) set up by SDCC to discuss the future of the park.

The HLTF has helped deliver several on-the-ground improvements to date and took an active role in the development and design for the park, local Sinn Fein councillor William Carey has said.

The initial budget of €650,000 was increased by €500,000 at an SDCC meeting last week, bringing the total funding of the project to €1.15m.

Councillor Carey says Sinn Fein representatives provided a “very detailed” submission for the park’s redevelopment to the local authority which was “informed” by consultations with local people and regular park users.

“I am especially pleased that my appeal to SDCC in our pre-budget talks were received positively with the allocation of the additional sum of €500k for the investment into the Bawnogue community,” he says.

Carey says that the rejuvenation of the park will be welcomed by local residents.

“The success here derives initially from the work of Clondalkin Celtic FC and The Friends of St Cuthberts Group and former councillor Mark Ward TD who helped to bring local interest groups together in getting improvements into the park,” he says.

“The investment by SDCC is a recognition of these efforts, and of the local community in addressing what was a problem in the area previously beset by anti-social behaviour.”

South Dublin County Council said in the plans that “there is no real likelihood of significant effects on the environment arising from the proposed development and a determination has been made that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is not required.”

An Archaeological Impact Assessment  (AIA) also found that the three historical monuments in the park – the ruins of the medieval parish church, graveyard of Kilmahuddrick, and an adjoining medieval moated site would not be negatively impacted by the works.