University of Galway students help bring city’s long-awaited playground to life — ‘it was worth waiting for’
University of Galway students swapped lecture halls for hi-vis vests last week as they helped planning consultants map out a new all-inclusive playground for Renmore, a project residents have been awaiting for almost 25 years.
Requested by Galway City Councillors, the design team with planning consultants MKO held a walkthrough of a new environmentally inspired playground for Renmore on Wednesday, September 30.
The team, made up of Galway City Council, LUC, MKO, Punch Consulting Engineers, Quinn Architects, and TC Estimating, aims to submit a Part 8 planning application to Galway City planning offices by the end of October.
But different from other development walkthroughs was the addition of 25 Planning and Development students invited to join MKO in mapping out the specific areas of the development.
University of Galway students at site walkover. © MKO Ireland
University of Galway planning and development students Catren Moore, Unafi Ahsanzuama, Lauren Fitzpatrick. © Emma F. Smith
University of Galway students were invited to walk and mark the site of a proposed new Renmore playground. © MKO Ireland
In hi-vis vests and booted footwear, University of Galway students marked the different parts of the playground to show the proposed plans for the development.
One master’s student, Lauren Fitzpatrick, told the Irish Independent that the opportunity to walk the grounds has left her thinking she might like to utilise the all-inclusive play space herself upon its completion.
“I think it’s going to be fantastic for the community. Being on the ground and seeing how it’s going to be is fantastic to see it in real life,” she said.
The lush greenfield along Renmore Avenue slated for a new playground. © Emma F. Smith
“I suppose looking at maps can be a little bit harder to visualise, but this is going to be a brilliant development for Renmore. What I love about this project is that without building huge structures, you’ve completely redeveloped an area that this space now becomes a lived space.”
Another student, Unafi Ahsanzuama said: “It’s always great when a course involves you in the real-life processes of the field that you’re going to be working in.
“It’s going to be not too far off from what we’re doing later on in our professional careers,” he added.
The design of the playground is focused on inclusivity and age-specific development throughout five play areas.
Draft ground level visual of playground. © MKO Ireland
“For me, I think that the actual design is very inclusive, the accessibility for all different age ranges and abilities, and bringing in the biodiversity, the wetlands,” another student, Catren Moore said as she described the opportunity to contribute to the project in such a hands-on way as “exciting”.
She added: “[MKO] will be protecting the current oak trees that are planted here. The different zones of play areas are designed as acorns, so as in there are scattered acorns on the ground.”
“There is one zone in particular, the largest acorn, which is designed as free play,” she added. “I have an older child, and I know my older child will love playing in this area without the structure or feeling a bit juvenile.”
Along with a large free play space the playground will also include a toddler play area and a ‘Play For All’ sensory area.
Another area identified will be a sand and water play area with pumps and spray elements as well as dry stream beds for exploration, as well as a quiet play area with structures and hammocks.
MKO will also be proposing crosswalks from the site across Renmore Avenue to the north as well as implementing road narrowing measures to reduce vehicle speeds. Access to the playground from the resedential area from the south of the development will also be provided.
Also walking the grounds Wednesday morning was Renmore Residents Association (RRA) chairwoman, Deirdre McFadden who told the Irish Independent she had full confidence in MKO delivering a playground that residents would welcome.
“Before MKO came along, [the RRA] did a playground survey of what the residents wanted in Renmore, and it came out there was such a high percentage of people that wanted improvements and facilities for the children of all different ages in Renmore.”
Draft Aeiral visual of proposed Renmore Playground. © MKO Ireland
Draft site layout of Renmore playground. © MKO Ireland
“I think the plans that they have shown us today and what they’ve drawn out on the green area is exactly what the community of Renmore want and need,” she added.
One major concern from residents was that the development would turn the lush green field into a “concrete jungle”. However, Ms McFadden said MKO has clearly “taken our concerns into account.”
Vicechair of RRA Denis Mulgannon added that the plans have been finally explained in “layman’s terms” for the first time since the project was suggested nearly 25 years ago.
Renmore Community Centre across the street from playground site. © Emma F. Smith
The park site is located across from the Renmore Community Centre, the Scout’s Den, Bon Secours hospital and the Kingfisher club.
The fully-funded playground is linked to the Renmore Neighbourhood Park Project and the wider masterplan for Renmore, Lough Atalia, and Ballyloughane Beach but is being pushed forward to fulfil a need for play spaces in Galway identified in the Galway Green Spaces Strategy 2025–2034.
Galway City Councillor Terry O’Flaherty was the singular elected representative to attend the walkthrough. She has been pushing for this project for many years, with many obstacles along the way, she told the Irish Independent.
“Renmore was crying out for the playground for many, many years. Looking at the plans here today, what MKO has done, it was worth waiting for. It ticks all the boxes.”