Councillor and Mayor of the Waterford’s Metropolitan Area, Adam Wyse, has welcomed progress on a new recreational park for the Ballygunner Area.
Speaking at the December Plenary Meeting for Waterford City and County, Cllr. Mary Roche, commented that she had worked on the project with Mayor Wyse’s father, Cllr. Gary Wyse, as far back as the 2009-2013 term.
Discussing the project with The Munster Express, Mayor Wyse, explained that he went on to champion the project since becoming an elected representative in 2013.
“In fairness to Cllr. Mary Roche, she was a very good help to me when I first started on the Council.
“Her and my Dad, Gary, had been working on a project in Ballygunner for some time trying to get a park there, they were told there was money going away in the capital budget each year for the project.”
“I took it on then in 2013. It shouldn’t take that long to get a playground in an area like Ballygunner where there are so many people, but unfortunately it did. The good news is it’s going to be there now.”
When asked about the demand for amenities in the Ballygunner area generally, Mayor Wyse commented “It’s badly needed in, there is a huge amount of development and housing going up there so the infrastructure has to follow.
“I want to thank Mary Roche for first bringing it to my attention and working with me over the last decade or so to deliver it. Hopefully we will have someone to construct it this year and kids will be able to use it as soon as possible. It’s hugely needed and I think it will be very welcome.
“I want to thank the Council and the team for working on this project as well and finally delivering on it.”
When the project was raised at the December meeting for Waterford’s Metropolitan Area, Cllr. Mary Roche reiterated a significant point she has made multiple times.
“I’ve said 100 times in these Council chambers, that our playgrounds are the hardest working pieces of infrastructure that we have, they owe us nothing in terms of the value that they give our communities and the use that they get is absolutely phenomenal.”
She also mentioned the issue of naming the park, saying “We called it Kilcarragh park as a working title but when we consulted with the residents and the children, they identify with it more as Ballygunner. We should consider naming it in the fullness of time as Ballygunner Park.”
In response Mayor Wyse agreed that the name Kilcarragh Park is a name unlikely to represent the area. “I fully agree with you. I’ve lived there for 23 years and have only ever known the area as Ballygunner.”
AARON KENT
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
