Crusheen playground gets green light

CLARE County Council this week cleared the way for the construction of a playground in the village of Crusheen.
The local authority granted permission on Tuesday for the development, which will consist of the construction of a children’s playground with play equipment, four car-parking spaces, a boundary fence, parents seating and associated site works.
The Crusheen Playground Committee submitted the application in December to build the facility at Stonepark in the village.
The committee stated as part of the planning file that its aim is to build a playground “on the Iarnród Éireann site and provide car parking and fencing around the playground”.
In July 2011, Iarnród Éireann received full planning permission for a railway stop, car parking and a proposed green area in Crusheen.
When this happened, the committee contacted the landowner, John Galvin, of John Galvin Construction, Faunrusk, Barefield and following a meeting with him, Iarnród Éireann and Clare County Council, it was agreed that a playground could be built on the site, subject to planning permission. In a letter to the council, Mr Galvin stated he intends to transfer ownership of the green area at the entrance to his site to the playground committee, upon them being granted permission for the playground.
Iarnród Éireann also submitted a letter with regard to the project. In it, it confirmed it intends “as part of the scheme for the proposed Crusheen station to provide a compensatory green area to the north of the proposed access road and west of the former N18”.
The company is “agreeable to providing a space within this compensatory area for a proposed playground” but stressed the playground would be delivered by others and the provision of the space is conditional on Clare County Council approving the proposed landscaping plan, including the playground space.
The playground committee stated when the playground construction is completed, financial obligations, including liability insurance and maintenance costs, would be managed by the Crusheen Community Playground Committee and funded by ongoing events, such as a church gate collection once a year. The committee conducted surveys and found the local population is in the region of 1,200 and in the past 10 years, 250 new houses have been built in Crusheen catchment area.
It added it did not think a marketing strategy is necessary as the playground would be in “a prime location” in the village near to Crusheen National School, playschool, the local crèche and housing developments.
The committee also promoted what it sees as the health benefits, social benefits and self-confidence benefits of having a playground in the area.
“The impact this facility will have on the surrounding area cannot be quantified in a numerical term. However, the implications are obvious. Currently there is no similar facility in the immediate vicinity and, as such, this would greatly enhance the lives of all members of the immediate and wider communities.
“However, it is generally accepted that one thing the village requires to greatly enhance the experience of living in this exciting region would be a safe and secure play area that would provide an affordable and fun play facility for the increasing number of young families and children in the community. There is no communal playground within the Crusheen area and the benefits of a playground are proven excellent for children.
“There are four housing developments in Crusheen village with no amenities for children. Crusheen National School has an attendance of 110 children, Crusheen playschool has 40 children attending and the local crèche also has children attending. There are also children attending schools outside the parish such as Gaelscoil and a facility like this would help them to integrate with the local children.
“It would also have benefits for the newer people in the parish of Crusheen to integrate and get to know one another. The benefits of a playground adjacent to them would be most beneficial. We want to provide a safe playground for children in our locality,” the committee outlined.
As well as benefiting children, the committee noted “such structures also form an interesting get-together place for the stay-at-home mothers/fathers”, as well as being a suitable place “to take a morning walk with pet animals”.
The Crusheen Playground Committee cited spring 2012 as the start date for work on the project.