Play park in Limerick community moves a step closer as lease is agreed
Athea locals had been campaigning for new playground in the village
PLANS to open a playground in a west Limerick village have been rubber-stamped by councillors.
Members of Limerick City and County Council have agreed to provide a 1.28-acre site in Athea to the local community council, which plans to develop a play park.
The council-owned land is to be given to Athea Community Council CLG by way of a 30-year lease, in return for the symbolic sum of €1, to facilitate the proposed development.
The lease will have a condition on it that if the land is not developed in an agreed timeframe, it will return to the local authority.
Athea’s Community Playground Committee has already secured planning permission to develop a playground and other associated amenities on the site, which is located north of Hillside Drive.
The committee is applying for various funding streams in order to turn the plans into a reality.
To date, €100,000 has seen secured from Mayor John Moran, and a further €65,000 from Clar, which is a Government investment programme giving funding for small-scale infrastructure projects in rural areas whose population has fallen.
It is anticipated the park will be developed in three phrases.
The first phase will see a car park, entrance works and site groundworks.
A second phase will see the building of the playground itself, alongside safety surfacing and associated landscaping.
The third and final piece of the jigsaw will see an all-weather pitch, utility building and perimeter fencing constructed.
Councillors approved the land lease at this month’s full meeting.