Re-opening of park a big boost to the whole community
The re-opening last week of Blackrock Park shone a welcome light forward and made life much brighter for all in the community restoring the amenity as a wonderful place of relaxation, pleasure and play.
The removing of the barriers to allow users back in again revealed also the progress that has been made on the newest phase of the development of the amenity, the floodlighting of the park, and erection of wood turbines and solar panels from which the lighting columns will be powered. A separate solar phone charging station has been installed and is proving popular.
The lockdown deprived villagers and others in the habit of visiting the park the pleasure of doing simple things like going for a stroll around it and view and enjoy all the gardens, plants and greenery or to play in the case of youngsters in the sports zone which caters for ten to 18 year-olds to play football, tennis and basketball.
The Park was closed as part of the COVID-19 restrictions since Easter weekend and its re-opening last week was very much welcomed by all who use the park. In line with all other parks the Children’s Playground remains closed.
Work while interrupted by the closure is well advanced on the public floodlighting of the park. The cabling for the lights on this sustainable energy project was installed before Easter after which the work stopped.
However, the Park Committee are delighted that the contractors returned to the site this week and erected the lamps, the wind turbine and the separate solar phone charging station.
The five lamps located along two of the pathways in the park will be powered from the turbine and solar panels.
The Committee expect the panels will be installed this week and all installation works completed in the next fortnight.
The project has been funded by a grant from Louth Leader, a contribution from Louth County Council and from park committee funds.
Louth County Council have provided invaluable assistance and expertise in over-seeing the project and the Committee report that contractors Arbarr/McCorley are doing an excellent job with minimum disruption for park users.
No date as yet has been fixed for when the floodlights will be operational. However, in the meantime the mobile phone charging points located between the picnic tables are operational and proving very useful.
The floodlighting of the park is another big part of the development of the park, which has won national and international recognition. For the last few years it has been awarded Green Flag status which sets the benchmark standard for the management of outdoor spaces and parks.
It is fitting recognition for the dedicated and loving attention that the park volunteers on an on-going basis give to the upkeep and enhancement of the park, and all those involved in it’s development down the years. They have succeeded in a relatively short number of years to turn it into a world class facility providing a space for all members of the community, young and old to meet, sit and enjoy the park and to play.