Clare County Council has announced the appointment of Nicholas de Jong Associates as consultants for the design and delivery of the proposed Shannon Town Park project in Shannon, County Clare.
The €910,000 project will see the enhancement and incorporation of the existing town park woodland and the adjacent Rineanna Park into a flagship Town Park for the people of Shannon.
A full design team, led by Nicholas de Jong Associates has been appointed to progress the design and planning phases of the project and Clare County Council anticipates that contractors could be on site in mid-2017, subject to statutory planning procedures and approval.
Earlier this year, Clare County Council was allocated €455,000 in EU funding from the Southern Regional Assembly’s Operational Programme 2014-2020 to support sustainable urban development in the Limerick-Shannon Gateway. Clare County Council will fund the balance of the overall cost of the project. The sanctioning authority for the Shannon Town Park project is the ERDF Auditing & Certifying Authority within the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform.
Cllr. Bill Chambers, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council has welcomed the appointment of consultants, adding that the provision of green infrastructure is a “priority” for the future development of County Clare’s second largest town.
“Importantly, this project recognises that the existing town park woodland and the adjacent Rineanna Park is an important environmental and public realm resource that can be improved and looked upon with pride by the people of Shannon. Once delivered, the Shannon Town Park will act as a focal point for the wider community, and will also enhance the recreational opportunities for children, youths and adults in Shannon and surrounding areas.”
“Clare County Council is providing €455,000 of the overall cost of the project from its own resources which underlines the Local Authority’s ongoing commitment to providing improved recreational facilities in Clare,” explained Gerard Dollard, Director of Services, Planning & Economic Development, Clare County Council.
He added, “This project will deliver a flagship Town Park for the people of Shannon, will improve linkages with other green infrastructure areas in Shannon, and will improve the general appearance of the park as well as optimise the area’s appeal as a destination.”
Mr. Dollard continued, “The next step is to develop the design with public consultation, and apply for Planning Consent. Following detail design, tender preparation, and the tendering and procurement process, it is anticipated that construction work will start in the middle of next year.”
The Shannon Town Park project was first developed with public consultation to detailed masterplan level during the preparation of the Shannon Green Infrastructure Plan 2013. The project also is an objective of the Shannon Town & Environs Local Area Plan 2012-2018.