Ambitious masterplan for modern coastal park in Wicklow includes new events spaces and sports upgrades

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

One of the most significant public space projects proposed for Arklow in recent decades could see an area of the seaside town transformed into a modern coastal park under ambitious plans unveiled by Wicklow County Council.

The draft masterplan outlines extensive changes across the 21.73-hectare site at Seaview Avenue, including upgraded sports facilities, larger play areas, new walking trails, event spaces and habitat restoration works designed to enhance both recreation and biodiversity.

The plans, now on public display under the Part 8 process, reveal a level of detail and ambition that goes well beyond the existing layout, aiming to create a destination that serves families, athletes, nature lovers and visitors alike.

At the heart of the proposal is the lower site, currently home to the running track, sports pitch, skate park and basketball court. These facilities are set for a dramatic overhaul. The running track will be fully upgraded, with dedicated athletics areas added for field events.

The sports pitch will be improved, and new spectator terraces will be carved into the grass banks along Mill Road and the sea defence, giving the area a more defined and welcoming structure. A 2,400‑square‑metre pump track is planned, along with an expanded skate park that will cater to a growing community of young users.

Multi‑use ball courts will be connected to the existing basketball court, creating a larger and more flexible sports zone. Shelters for spectators and athletes will be installed, and the café and sports centre frontage will be redesigned to create a more active and inviting entrance.

One of the most striking features is the events promenade, a 15‑metre‑wide corridor running between the duck pond and the running track. Designed to host festivals, markets, community gatherings and seasonal events, it includes two 6 metre wide lanes capable of accommodating tents, structures and service vehicles without disrupting pedestrian movement.

This promenade is intended to become the social spine of the lower site, linking sports, leisure and community activity in a single unified space.

The middle site acts as a transition between the busy lower area and the more natural upper landscape. Here, the Bloom Garden will be expanded into a larger park with a new pedestrian entrance from Seaview Avenue.

The existing playground will be enlarged and made more accessible, while the children’s driving school will be relocated to a safer and more integrated position. A new service road will run along the western boundary, providing access to the Tidy Towns yard and aquatic centre without interfering with play areas.

The duck pond, one of Seaview’s most recognisable features, will receive significant attention. Reedbeds will be selectively managed to increase open water and improve views, while new lookouts will extend over the pond, including a primary viewing platform at the end of the Events Promenade.

The existing car park beside the pond will be removed and replaced with a grassed amphitheatre, complete with granite seating set into the slope. This amphitheatre will overlook the water and serve as a venue for small performances, gatherings and informal recreation.

The middle site also includes a sand‑dune habitat mound, where exotic vegetation will be removed and replaced with native coastal species. New trails will be formed through the dunes, leading to a lookout point at the highest elevation.

Public toilets and a changing places unit will be built at the junction between the lower and middle sites, addressing one of the most frequently raised issues during public consultation.

The upper site is the most natural part of the masterplan, focused on habitat enhancement and informal recreation. The existing Kynoch Park trail network will be upgraded, with primary paths widened and secondary routes improved.

Vegetation along the trails will be strengthened through trimming and infill planting, creating thicker buffers that improve biodiversity and reduce disturbance.

The Kynoch Memorial Park will be developed with weaving gravel paths, meadow grass, seating and interpretive signage that reflects the area’s industrial heritage. Salvaged granite from the former factory will be reused as part of the landscape design.

Along the coastal edge, the sea defence bank will be planted with resilient scrub species to protect the park during storm events. A new sea defence trail will run along the bank, connecting lookouts and offering views across the Irish Sea. Coastal planting will reinforce the natural character of the area while improving its ability to withstand erosion and extreme weather.

Across all three zones, the masterplan emphasises accessibility, biodiversity and community use. New paths will improve movement throughout the site, linking Seaview Avenue, Mill Road, the duck pond, the dunes and the coastal edge.

Native planting, meadow creation, woodland enhancement and invasive species removal will strengthen ecological value. Play areas will be expanded, sports facilities modernised, and new social spaces introduced to support events and gatherings.

The plans are now available for public viewing, and submissions are invited until September 24.