Popular Wicklow playground to get significant upgrade as new plans are approved
The Wicklow PeopleDistrict councillors in Greystones have welcomed plans for a new playground on land at Blackditch in Newcastle.
The current Newcastle Playground was built approximately 25 years ago, and the amenity has now reached the stage where much of the equipment and surfacing is approaching the end of its lifespan.
Plans from Wicklow County Council aim to provide “a state-of-the-art inclusive playground that will enhance the quality of life within the community, providing a welcoming and inclusive space for children of all abilities, their families and friends".
As a result, a decision has been made to move the location of the playground to an adjacent area of council-owned land to allow for the future expansion of the adjacent MUGA courts. The local authority will be working in partnership with the Newcastle Community Forum to review the playground design preferences.
The Wicklow County Development Plan 2022-2028 envisages that a Level 6 “Small Town Type 2” like Newcastle should have an adequate play area and multi-use games area. This project would allow this core strategy to be maintained.
The surfaced playground area will be approximately 800m2 with the option add additional “natural play” elements and landscaping outside of this area. The existing concrete “band stand” structure is to be demolished. The resulting rubble is to be reused on-site for landscaping. Any existing trees will be incorporated into the playground layout design.
The redevelopment works will not result in any likely significant effects on the conservation objectives in the surrounding area. Separately an Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Report concluded that the development as proposed will “not result in significant negative impacts on the environment and as such will not require a sub-threshold environmental impact assessment".
The project received a boost in 2025 when €160,000 was allocated for upgrade works at the playground under the Community Recognition Fund.
Executive engineer John McGee informed district councillors at their January monthly meeting that a tender for the project will be appointed in mid-late April, with works to commence over the summer months.
The proposed works involve the construction of a new playground facility consisting of:
• Site clearance and decommissioning of existing playground
• Repositioning of playground to allow for the future expansion of the adjacent MUGA courts.
• Installation of children’s play equipment, perimeter fencing, safety surfacing. • Installation of a third MUGA court adjacent to the existing courts.
• Provision of associated footpaths, kerbing and landscaping
• All associated and ancillary site works. Preliminary drawings of the proposed works are included within the planning documentation.