LIMERICK City and County Council have been called upon to identify suitable land in the Raheen and Dooradoyle area to facilitate the construction of a new multi-purpose children’s playground.
Labour councillor Joe Leddin has asked council management to begin a search for a suitable site to start the process of developing a new playground and recreational amenity to meet the changing demographics and needs of children living in the area.
“We have witnessed in recent years a significant growth in population with close to 20,000 now living in the area. Hundreds of new houses are being built with many new families and young children now living in Raheen and Dooradoyle,” Cllr Leddin explained.
“As a local councillor, I am meeting parents and receiving regular requests for the provision of a new playground that can service the growing needs of the local community.
“The recently published report on the potential to develop a new community centre for Raheen and Dooradoyle highlighted the lack of suitable playgrounds and recreational amenities for young children as the largest issue and concern from survey responses”
According to the City West representative, the current playground located on the grounds of the Crescent Shopping Centre cannot meet the growing needs in terms of its physical size, the equipment available, and the lack of accessible inclusive playing facilities for children with special needs.
“We cannot expect the playground in Mungret or the recently opened People’s Park playground to cater for the needs of a growing population with several hundred more houses due for construction in the Mungret area alone.
“As a Council we must continue to invest in community facilities and the significant investment in modern accessible playing equipment now available to children in the People’s Park must be replicated in a new modern fit for purpose playground in the Raheen/Dooradoyle area.”
Cllr Leddin welcomed the agreement from the council executive at the recent Community and Leisure Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) to establish a working group to progress the plans for a new playground in the greater Raheen-Dooradoyle area.
