CITY councillors have expressed safety concerns about the city’s new €650,000 playground.
The new children’s playground at Fitzgerald’s Park, Cork. Pic: Larry Cummins.
The Fitzgerald’s Park playground has been the source of constant criticism since it opened last summer. The state-of-the-art, all-inclusive amenity has been closed on several occasions due to flooding, and councillors are now questioning the safety of the unit after complaints from members of the public.
Fianna Fáil councillor Kenneth O’Flynn raised the matter with the Council, indicating that constituents have told them they cannot see their children when playing in certain parts of the playground.
Mr O’Flynn said, “Children can not be seen at all times when at the playground which is a concern for parents. You don’t know where they are – did we consider fencing? If you stand at certain areas in the playground, children can’t be seen.”
Parents say that the walls of the structure are too high that you lose sight of children when they are playing in certain parts of the playground.
The layout of the structure and the crowds at the playground mean that children often vanish from sight for a few minutes at a time.
One parent said, “You can’t go there on your own if you are bringing two children – you need two parents to practically follow children through the playground.”
Officials at the local authority confirmed their intention to liaise with councillors to assess the issues at hand and will progress accordingly.
Meanwhile, works are currently ongoing at the park to remedy persistent flood problems.
The park has been closed on three occasions due to flooding in late December/early January and again in early March and early April.
Councillors criticised the lack of drainage facilities at the playground which was designed by a multi-disciplinary team of specialist consultants.
At the design phase, it was concluded that on-site infiltration of rainwater to ground via stone-filled underground trenches was deemed the appropriate means of disposal. An identical system is used to drain the lawn at the entrance of the park.
City hall officials said, “A direct drain to the river from the playground drainage system was considered not necessary.”
However, the extreme weather conditions since have forced a rethink with consultants now recommending the installation of a drain with a non-return valve linking the playground drainage system to the river.
The project will take place in early May ‘at minimal cost’ according to City Council officials.
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