The Town Clerk, Pat Collins, and the Borough Engineer, Sinéad Casey met with us for a walk-about meeting on June 12, 2012. The purpose of the meeting was to look at ways to further improve the park. The following is our follow-up letter to the Town Clerk with a rather long list of items where improvements could be made.
Thank you to Borough Engineer Sinead Casey and yourself for meeting Cllr Jim Allen (now Mayor) and myself, both of the Love Redmond Park group, in Redmond Park today. Cllr Danny Forde was also present. As you saw the park is looking in very good condition at present. We are happy to report that anti-social behaviour is at a minimum - the most recent such event was the damage caused to some newly planted saplings. These will be replaced in the Autumn. There is a small increase in littering in the park over the past week caused by students lunching between exams. This happens every year and is not a major concern to us. There are regular weekly clean-ups of the park by local volunteers with the support and assistance of WBC. We also perform occasional weeding and planting. We recently planted several dozen begonias rescued last Winter from the '98 Street flower-beds along with tulip and daffodil bulbs donated by a local resident.
On our walk-about in the park we identified a number of areas that require attention, some in the short term and others in the longer term.
The Pond - This is the one item that people keep bringing up: "bring back the pond". I have spoken with horticulturist Betsy Hickey about this in the past and she says that it is possible to restore a re-formated pond. It would be smaller than the original as she says we should retain some of the marsh area there at present given the rich biodiversity it supports. Cllr. Jim Allen suggests that in the short term we do some remedial work to clean up the area and allow clear visibility through to areas at the rear of the park. Before proceeding with any work Wexford Borough Council will get professional advice. You are checking your files for a previous submission by Betsy Hickey.
Wild Meadow - This area is looking suitably wild! In the Autumn there will be further planting of bluebell bulbs here. A path will be cut (as in strimmed) through the upper part of this area to allow for a perimeter running/walking path.
Trees - we discussed the damage caused recently to a number of saplings in the park. These will be replaced, albeit not necessarily in the same locations, in the Autumn with assistance from WCC's Environment Section.
Steps to the pond area - These require some attention as there is some breakage. Sinead's predecessor had proposed removing these steps and replacing with a more gradually inclined path up by the side of the wild meadow area.
Volunteers - We discussed the situation regarding the use of volunteers to do manual work in the park such as strimming. We need to be careful from an insurance point of view. Either use WBC employees to undertake such work or hire a professional with his/her own insurance.
The Parklands Corner - We discussed access to the park via Parklands. This unofficial access point, which crosses a piece of the property adjoining the park, requires attention. Apart from being something of an obstacle course it attracts litter and is occasionally used as a meeting place for drinks parties. From a park security point of view this corner allows people enter the park after hours (when the main front gate has been closed).
The Adjoining Property - We discussed potential uses for the field adjoining Redmond Park on one side and Parklands on the other. Suggestions: formal garden, football field, tennis courts, allotments. If the park is to extend into this area we would need to create a wider opening in the ditch between the two. WBC would also have to install a security fence along the bottom of Parklands. Any short term remedial work in this area should wait until late Autumn when the vegetation has died back.
The Playground - we pointed out the two items that we purchased/repaired with funds raised. Town Clerk mentioned in passing that there is no funding available from RAPID or anywhere else for overhauling the playground. Regular monitoring of the condition of the playground takes place although, despite obvious deteriorations, no follow-up action has resulted. Poor drainage in the playground area leads to pooling and dangerously slippy conditions - any future redesign of the playground must address this.
The Public Loo - Cllr Jim Allen mentioned that this was out of commission on the weekend of the John Giles "Walk Of Dreams". There were hundreds of people in the park including many children. (The cost-benefit aspects of the loo were not discussed although if they had been it would likely have presented a grim picture. This loo gets very little use yet typically is serviced six days each week. This cannot be cost effective.)
Fencing at the Loo (not discussed but raised by a resident) - the fencing is very unsightly. Consider putting top-soil around the perimeter and planting climbing plants to screen the fence.
The Fenced-in Area (Rowes Mill Corner / Old Dance Hall) - We discussed the possibility of putting an all-weather football/basketball court here. This option not favoured due to limited size of the area and proximity to neighbouring property. The area might be suitable for a children's exercise / coordination circuit. Another suggestion is to move the boules area to this corner and restore the present boules area to grass. The boules players have commented on the quantity of foliage that falls on their playing area in Autumn.
Exercise Lap - We will measure out and signpost an exercise lap for joggers and walkers. Some woodchip and gravel required especially around the pond area. Let Loreto Secondary School know about this as their PE teacher might prefer to have students exercising here than on the footpath. Also advise the Vocational School.
Exercise Stations - A longer term aim is to install sturdy simply constructed wooden exercise stations. These can be seen in parks all over the World. They are very popular for both individual and group training.
Uplighting at Redmond Memorial - The two ground-embedded lighting units need to be replaced.
Rear wall at Redmond Memorial - The blind side of this wall suffers from occasional graffiti attacks. Install trellis / wire and creeper plant to hide the "canvas".
CCTV - The question of cctv cameras comes up regularly. Cllr Allen suggested installing a camera pointing at the front gate.
Power-points - Cllr Jim Allen pointed out that we presently have just one power-point in the park, this at the toilet. He wants more. Sinead was not keen as she said these are costly to set up and install.
Water-taps - Cllr Jim Allen requested water-taps for the park so that flowers and plants can be watered. Plants aside, there is presently no access to drinking water in the park. Sinead said she would look into installing push water-taps. The park is a perfect location for rainwater harvesting.
Surface water flowing from the park to Spawell Road (not discussed but raised by a resident) - sometimes you have a small river gushing out the front gates. In very cold weather there is an additional risk of ice forming on the footpath. Finally there may be some de-stabilising of the front wall of the park as a result of water damage.
Events - We hope to organise a number of low-key event in the park throughout the year with an emphasis on using local groups such as music or dance schools. Our last event was Neighbours' Day - a great success. Wexford Tourist Walks includes Redmond Park in some of its tours. There has been talk of a music event in the park in late August / early September - not confirmed. The Picnic in the Park takes place in August. We hope to have some spooky stuff in the park for Halloween.
Schools - Let schools know of any initiatives planned, or possible uses of the park, asap so that they can include the park in plans for 2012/13 year. Cllr Jim Allen has suggested in the past getting schools involved in making and installing birdboxes. He also suggested getting Wexford Wildfowl Reserve personnel to conduct bat tours of the park.
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