This page provides a background on the history of the project to build the new playground in Allenwood which opened on 23rd May 2024.
The playground is located at https://maps.app.goo.gl/fDxpANRGcEzYYFZe9
PROJECT TIMELINE
2012 (estimated)
According to Kildare County Council, a couple of years before 2015, following discussions with the local community, a site at Allenwood Enterprise Centre was proposed for a playground and was considered suitable by the council. At that time the council sought confirmation in writing from the community before proceeding with plans for the playground. No confirmation was received.
January 2015
In response to a question from Cllr. Mark Stafford asking about the status of the playground project, Kildare County Council advised Cllr. Stafford that the confirmation in writing had not been received. An action to reopen discussions with the community was noted. See minutes of Kildare Newbridge Meeting
December 2016
Cllr. Stafford contacted Brendan Wyse and asked him to engage with the local community in order to reopen discussions. Brendan Wyse begins to gather information and is told that Allenwood Tidy Towns have been discussing the playground project also. Brendan Wyse joins Allenwood Tidy Towns and forms a playground sub-committee.
February 2017
The playground sub-committee and Allenwood Tidy Towns identify possible sites for a playground and perform an analysis on the available sites. They prepare a report to share with the local community.
15th June 2017
Brendan Wyse hosts a public meeting in Allenwood GAA Hall to show the community the identified sites and to recommend that the community proceed with accepting the offer by ACDAL to use the site at Allenwood Enterprise Park. See my post on the public meeting.
Following the meeting, a letter is sent by Brendan Wyse to the General Manager of ACDAL accepting the site on behalf of the community. A panel of interested members of the community is put in place to make decisions about the playground.
July 2017
Members of the playground panel meet with Kildare County Council and Cllr. Mark Stafford to discuss next steps. It is agreed that the community will begin the process of obtaining quotations from landscape architects to design a high level plan for the playground.
February 2018
Four quotations now provided to Kildare County Council by Brendan Wyse on behalf of the playground panel.
April 2018
Landscape architect selected to do the high level design by Kildare County Council. A meeting with the architect and Kildare County Council took place at the site.
August 2018
Draft design received and reviewed by the playground panel. Modifications requested by Kildare County Council.
October 2018
Second draft received and reviewed by the playground panel. Kildare County Council indicate that the next step will be a Part 8 Planning Application and the plans will be available for public viewing.
January 2019
In January 2019, Kildare County Council announce the Part 8 planning process for the playground, and plans are put on display in Spar Allenwood and in the ACDAL buildings.
April 2019
Kildare County Council indicate that the planning process is being delayed due to a legal issue. This centres around the lease arrangement between the ESB and ACDAL. The lease forbids the use of the leased land for a community amenity, thus preventing the council from building a playground on it.
1st May 2019
Funding of €51,385 awarded to Allenwood Tidy Towns from the Drehid Community Grant Scheme to help build the playground. See €51,385 from Drehid Community Grant for Allenwood Playground.
5th July 2019
At the July meeting of the Clane Maynooth Municipal District, Cllr. Wyse requests that Kildare County Council lead the discussions with the ESB and ACDAL to resolve the legal issue that was raised in April.
KCC indicate that the site is no longer an option and that they will discuss alternative sites with ACDAL. See Council seeking alternative sites for Allenwood Playground for a full report on this meeting.
Following this meeting, Cllr. Wyse arranges to meet the ESB and ACDAL to confirm that the site is no longer available.
18th July 2019
Cllr. Wyse meets with representatives from the ESB and ACDAL. It is confirmed to him that the proposed site cannot be used for the purposes of building a playground.
30th July 2019
Cllr. Wyse meets with staff from the Parks Section of Kildare County Council to view two potential alternative sites in Allenwood. One being offered by a local sports club and the other being offered, again, by ACDAL (this time on ACDAL owned land).
It is agreed that the alternative site being offered by ACDAL would be the preferred location for a playground, being close to the Men’s Shed, Scout’s Den and Bright Sparks Creche.
It was agreed that the Parks Section would liaise with the other groups located close to the site, to seek feedback on the proposal.
18th November 2019
Kildare County Council approve the Capital Programme for 2020 – 2022 where estimated expenditure of €330,000 is designated for Allenwood Playground.
21st November 2019
Kildare County Council Parks Section indicate that consultation with the other groups in the vicinity of the proposed location is now complete. The process of modifying the original Part 8 design will now commence.
25th November 2019
At a report given to a full council meeting of Kildare County Council, ACDAL estimate the playground will open within 2 years.
7th February 2020
In response to a question by Cllr. Brendan Wyse at the February meeting of the Clane Maynooth Municipal District, the Parks Section of Kildare give an estimated timeline of April for completion of the final redesign of the playground, on the new site.
8th May 2020
In an email to Cllr. Brendan Wyse, the Parks Section state that the final redesign has been completed and that the final documents for the revised Part 8 are to be compiled.
3rd July 2020
In response to a question by Cllr. Brendan Wyse, at the July meeting of the Clane Maynooth Municipal District, the Parks Section estimate that the revised Part 8 for Allenwood Playground will be advertised by the end of October 2020.
24th November 2020 – 14th January 2021
Part 8 planning process commences for the second time and ended on January 14th 2021. Full plans and details made available at https://consult.kildarecoco.ie/en/consultation/allenwood-community-playground
5th March 2021
Part 8 planning permission for Allenwood Playground is approved at the March meeting of the Clane / Maynooth Municipal District.
11th August 2022
Following an intial tender process resulting in one tender, Kildare County Council decided not to award the tender and to re-advertise it in three lots for each part of the project.
30th January 2023
Following a second tender process, tenders were being assessed with a view to appointing a contractor by the end of February.
4th May 2023
The work on fencing off the area for the playground commences.
26th September 2023
Construction of the playground commenced.
4th March 2024
Minister Martin Heydon TD visits the site with Allenwood Tidy Towns. We speak with the contractor who estimates three weeks remain on the construction phase of the project. It is anticipated the playground could open later in March or in early April.
23rd May 2024
The playground opens to the public following completion at a cost of roughly €650,000.
PLANS
