New park will create ‘key amenities’ for Bunclody but goats must be evicted first

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

A new community park will not only provide much-needed open space for the people of Bunclody, it will also help alleviate traffic congestion in the town. Upon completion Pairc na nGabhar will feature a walking track around its perimeter, a playground, an outdoor gym, a picnic table, and a car park which will also accommodate those collecting children from the adjoining national school.

Presenting the design for the park at the January meeting of the Enniscorthy Municipal District (EMD), executive technician Cat Fitzpatrick said the 0.67 hectare site was currently occupied by some long-term residents.

“Anyone who lives locally will know that goats live in the field at the moment,” she said of a parcel of land which had previously been in the ownership of a housing agency. “The idea is to create a number of key amenities for the area, the car park will be used by those visiting the park but also as an overflow for Our Lady of Lourdes National School; there’s very little parking there and it can be quite chaotic at collection time for the school. The walking track will link directly to the school without the need for walking on the road."

In addition to the park, the council intends to create a walkway which will provide an alternative route to and from the centre of the town.

“The park will be near a lot of housing estates, anyone in those areas who wanted to use the soccer pitch would usually have to walk or drive down the town but we are proposing a two-metre, lit, fenced walkway which will connect on to Church Road,” said Ms Fitzpatrick. “So, people will be able to walk or cycle on that without the need to drive through town.”

Welcoming the design, Bunclody councillor Barbara Anne Murphy said the park will provide an outlet for those living in the surrounding areas.

“There’s no amenities for those living in the housing estates in that part of town so putting something in that will be of use to the wider community will be of huge benefit.”