€500k skate park is approved for Le Fanu

By Maurice Garvey

PLANS for the new €500,000 skate park in Ballyfermot have been approved by Dublin City Council.

The Matheson Foundation and Dublin City Council (DCC) co-funded the flagship project, in partnership with the Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF).

The site is located in Le Fanu Park, between the junctions with Le Fanu Road and Blackditch Road, adjacent to Ballyfermot Leisure Centre.

London architect firm Relational Urbanism were awarded first place in an international competition to design the skate park.

The London firm are working with DCC on the final designs for the tendering process for contractors.

Rebecca Blake, Education Curator IAF said: “The next step is to appoint contractors to build the skate park, the play areas and the landscaping elements.

“We aim to break ground and begin construction this Summer and hope for the park to be complete in Spring 2018 all going well.”

Ms Blake said the IAF and the architects hope to continue working with local residents on creating “certain elements of the park together.”

“We will be in touch about getting involved in this once contractors are in place,” she said.

The project includes fencing, grass mounding, pedestrian paths and bicycle stands with provision of CCTV and public lighting, in addition to play areas.

Works allow for excavation, earthworks, drainage and extensive planting. Plans and particulars of the proposed development may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable.

Residents can get in touch through flyers sent out in the community this week, or by checking updates on the Play Park Ballyfermot Facebook page.