New look Con Smith Park revealed

Plans for the regeneration of Con Smith Park to include a basketball court and possibly an expansion of the river, have been warmly received by local councillors.

A final draft of the masterplan was revealed at Monday’s Cavan/Belturbet Municipal District meeting by James Hennessy, Director of the Paul Hogarth Company who explained the changes implemented would fall under five sections; recreation and play, connection and movement, biodiversity, bio-resilience, and quality design and placemaking.

Speaking via videolink, Mr Hennessy told the meeting the project “has to be done to the highest quality”.

Funding of half a million euro has already been allocated to the project under the Towns and Villages fund.

Mr Hennessy explained this was a “concept plan” and was not intended to be very detailed.

To the north side of the park, located on the Cathedral Road, the project will see the introduction of better pathways and access points, the potential of expanding the river to increase wildlife in the area, a community orchard area and the refurbishment of a bridge which connects the park to the Cootehill Road.

In what is known as the Central Civic area of the park, the project will see the improvement of the current playground facilities and skate park, with the introduction of a new basketball court a strong possibility.

“Subject to more detailed studies,” Mr Hennessy explains there may be a possibility of opening up the river to attract more wildlife and allow wider bodies of water. He explained there are both formal and informal pathways in place in this area.

This project will see a more ecological approach to the maintenance of these paths, the grass surrounding them may be let grow rather than cut short to benefit the wildlife.

The band stand area is “very muddy at the moment” says the director, stating a “gravel or resin surface” is being considered for the area.

A fear among many of the locals was that this area would be covered in concrete, however Mr Hennessy believes these alternatives will “fit in with the park”.

The south side of the park is mainly woodland, which the company intends on leaving this way, with the addition of picnic benches and signage to allow visitors to observe the local wildlife.

“Across the river is very wet and boggy,” says Mr Hennessy, speaking about the final area of the park, the floodplain.

The plan will allow the area to continue to flood, however it will see the addition of a bridge and footpaths to “observe and watch” the nature of the area.

There is also the possibility of extending the park, if a private landowner who occupies land beside the park is agreeable, explained the director.

Two public consultations were held prior to the planning process, where over 300 people from the area offered their views.

This process revealed the lack of access and pathways, lighting and toilet facilities available.

The meeting also revealed a need for a café in the area, as well as a basketball court.

It also highlighted the park's key benefits including its skate park, playground, sculptures and band stand.

Mr Hennessy explained the park has a “couple of different functions", citing its contribution to the environment, the floodplains it offers.

He hopes the area can work as a “centrepiece” for the new Cavan Institute campus and will have strong links with the town centre.

While the councillors were content with the Masterplan, they had a few concerns.

Fianna Fáil Councillor John Paul Feeley expressed his “disappointment” by those who he claimed offered “misinformation” during the public consultation process.

He also warned the company that trying to fit too much into such a small park could be counter productive and the “requisition of additional lands” throughout the town may be a good idea.

Independent Cllr Brendan Fay stated that many basketball courts had been created around the area and are now “dark spaces” due to a lack of interest in the sport.

Mr Hennessy reassured him this was a sought after addition to the plans and due to more foreign nationals moving into the town in recent years, the sport has been more popular than ever.

Fianna Fáil Councillor Áine Smith explained she loved attending the park with her kids to feed the “family of ducks,” however Fine Gael Councillor Madaleine Argue interjected to say “the ducks are gone”.

“I don’t know if they were stolen or what.”

She asked if a dog run had been considered in the area, to which Mr Hennessy explained it had been, however due to lack of interest, it was not brought forward onto the plans.

Concluding the concerns, Fine Gael Councillor Peter McVitty asked if there were any plans to include parking facilities due to the issues of parking in the area.

Given the small area off the park, the director explained it would not be appropriate to create a new car park, however they hope to enhance walking and cycling lanes to the park to encourage people to travel there more economically.

The next stage of the development will reveal the plans in closer detail and outline a timeline of the projects.