Bantry's new family-friendly park a huge hit

Bantry's multi-use games area in the town’s Peace Park is bringing huge enjoyment to people in the area and the good news is that there are plans to expand it even further.

The Bantry Project Group, which has spearheaded the facility, hopes to shortly install adult exercise machines, more planting schemes, a pergola and also a walking track surface to be completed around the park.  

The new basketball court and play area was launched last week and is already in operation,

Chairperson of the group Deirdre Fitzgerald said they had four funding applications submitted for the expansion plans as they want it to be a ‘family friendly park, welcoming to people of all ages and abilities.’

The Bantry Project Group was established early last year to bring together some of the various groups in Bantry, to work together to apply for funding for the town. 

 It consists of the Bantry Business Association, Tidy Towns, Chamber of Commerce and the Bantry Tourism and Development Association. They all united to work together with the local Cork County Council senior executive engineer Ruth O’Brien and local town councillors Cllr Patrick Gerard Murphy, Danny Collins and Mary Hegarty.  

Also involved was Fergal Conlon of West Cork Development Partnership.  

Together this group to date has been successful in securing some funding for Bantry to include the MUGA and also €120,000 for a streetscape project for Main Street which will commence this month.

Further funding was secured by the Tidy Towns for re-planting of the park to increase biodiversity and planting is underway at present.

Deirdre added: ‘We also hope to introduce some mature trees, native to Ireland to the park as well. Bird and bat nesting boxes will also be introduced to the park.’

She said the Bantry Project Group would like to sincerely thank Cork County Council staff for their wonderful support to date. Funding came from the County Council’s LCDC Community Enhancement Programme.

‘They have provided the Bantry Project Group with great advice and guidance in how to progress our idea to improve the Peace Park lands at Newtown, Bantry,’ she added. ‘We would especially like to thank the LCDC for the funding for the MUGA – they have brought joy to many local Bantry people who have availed of this multi-purpose exercise area since its recent installation.’

The group will continue to meet monthly and will apply for various funding streams that are available throughout the year.

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