Dominick’s Park gets a Green Flag award

AN Taisce recently presented their Green Flag for public spaces award in respect of four parks in County Louth, including Dominic’s Park in Drogheda.

The flag was raised in Dominic’s Park last Friday by Mayor Pio Smith and Chairman of Louth County Council (LCC) Colm Markey.

The scheme was set up as a pilot in 2016 and Blackrock Community Park was the only and successful entrant from Louth. The aim of the award is to bring best practice to parks and green spaces both in terms of environmental management such as introducing wetlands, biodiversity zones and wildflower meadows as well as general safety, signage and cleanliness.

Numerous parks have developed written management policies reflecting best practice including environmental policy to promote biodiversity, reduce grass cutting, introduce recycling and composting as well as wildflower meadows and a whole array of other ecological initiatives that are a testament to the hard word of the grounds staff and park management.

Blending ecological initiatives with practical concerns of park management is one of the hallmarks of the Green Flag Award scheme. Only parks that provide free access to the public are eligible for the programme, so the scheme contributes directly to raising the standards of public service for the nation’s parks and green spaces. Parks are obliged to reapply each year, ensuring that their offering is up to the latest standards.

Under the direction of Elias Mlimbila, Parks Supervisor, Louth County Council and together with Drogheda and Tidy Towns, Dundalk and Drogheda Tidy Towns groups along with the park maintenance staff a concerted effort was made to bring the parks to standard and following on the success of Blackrock all four entrants from Louth this year were successful.

The value of the network of parks throughout the county is evident by the growing number of users whether it’s visiting the Princess Grace Rose Garden in St Dominic’s Park in Drogheda or a refreshing walk through the tree lined pathways in St Helena’s Park, Dundalk.