Damage to playgrounds costs €80,000 to repair

More than €80,000 was spent in the first nine months of this year on upgrading the city’s playgrounds, including repairs to equipment that was wrecked by vandals.

The remedial works for vandalism in February included €14,600 to repair damaged surfaces at Mervue playground, An Sean Bhaile playgrounds, Coole Park playground, and Ballinfoile Park playground.

Galway City Council in March spent an additional €5,000 replacing units of the skatepark at Millennium Park, which were damaged by vandals and wear and tear.

A further €9,900 was spent in May purchasing and refurbishing eight units of equipment that were vandalised and damaged by wear and tear at Merlin Woods City Park playground.

In July, some €6,000 was spent replaying three units of equipment damaged by wear and tear and vandalism at Gleann Bhan and Ballinfoile playgrounds.

Last January, some €30,000 was spent on a complete resurfacing of Toft Park playground in Salthill.

Elsewhere, some €5,000 was paid for replacement works at Mervue playground; €10,000 for new equipment at Lakeshore Drive playground; and €2,000 for replacement of worn surfaces at Merlin Woods City Park skatepark.

That outlay in playgrounds is in addition to daily works carried out by Council staff to maintain children’s play areas.

According to the report by Director of Services Tom Connell, more works at city playgrounds are in the pipeline between now and the yearend.

They include proposed works at McGrath’s Field, Eyre Square, and surface replacement at An Sean Bhaile, Slí Burca, Lakeshore Drive, and Claddagh.

Labour Party City Councillor, Niall McNelis welcomed the report, and urged the Council to continue to maintain the city’s network of play areas at all times.

He asked that fencing around playgrounds be painted because he fears the wooden fences will rot without treatment. Cllr McNelis said a new community group, ‘Friends of Cappagh Park’, is to be formed and will be tasked with regular clean ups, and promotion of nature in the area.