Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

The new Children’s and Teenager’s Play Park for Dungarvan utilised a brownfield site that was vacated by the relocation of a large Creamery complex outside of the town. The existing ‘Sluicheen’ waterway formed the northern boundary with the remainder of the perimeter of the site enclosed by adjacent residential development, and a supermarket car park.
The Council’s brief for the Park was left flexible and EPCA prepared a number of Options that sought to maximise the potential users of the Park from toddlers to the elderly – to ensure that the facility was used and therefore passively supervised and supported by the local community.
The programme incorporated in the final arrangement provided a Skate Park, BMX Pump Track, Young Cyclist learning circuit, Jogging Track and Adult Gym equipment spear around the jogging track. In addition to the sports facilities a semi covered outdoor Stage Performance Area was also provided.
Pedestrian routes were planned through the park, to encourage activity, and this permeability also proposed a new pedestrian bridge over the waterway and a boardwalk / picnic area.
The park has been completed over a number of years, based on EPCA’s Proposed Plan, as the funding for each element was made available.