Work on new walkway begins at community park in Bunninadden
Work has begun on the much anticipated walkway for the Ballinalack Community Park in Bunninadden.
The committee of the park is delighted to announce that funding to the value of more than € 124,000 has been approved from Leader which covers 75 percent of the initial cost of the walkway.
The new construction will see a walking/ jogging track around the facility to cater for a wider range of participants as part of Phase 4 of their development plan. The park is not affiliated to any particular organization and is open to all.
Funding was also secured from CLAR to the value of € 37,000 prior to Christmas. This funding has allowed the committee to erect ball stop nets at the back of each goal on the GAA field.
Poles are in position and nets will arrive in the coming weeks. Entrance to the park will be upgraded and the parking spaces will be lined, all under the CLAR scheme.
While the entire committee have been working over many years to raise money and draw up plans for this walkway, special mention is given to John O’ Flaherty for all his work and dedication along with Brendan Gallagher and Richard Brennan who liaised with John throughout the application process.
The commencement of work in the park will result in it been closed to the public during the construction phase.
Play school traffic will be supervised during time of entrance and exit from the premises and for the duration work will cease on the site due to health and safety. Since purchasing the land in 1987, the Committee of Ballinalack Community Park Ltd has been developing sporting facilities for all at the local park in Bunninadden.
This facility has been developed in phases and the Community Park have ran numerous fundraising venture over the years from A Charity run from Croke Park to Ballinalack to Charity Auctions, Golf classics, Cow Pat Bingos, Talent Shows and various draws.
These efforts with the support of the local community have raising over € 500,000.
The first phase saw drainage improvement to both the Gaelic Football and Soccer pitches which was carried out in 2003. An all weather training pitch was also completed as part of phase 1.
Phase 2 involved the upgrade of the dressing room facilities at the complex. New dressing rooms were completed in October 2009. The new building also included a gym, meeting room, kitchen and public toilets.
Phase 3 involved the construction of a playground, landscaping, a tar macadam car park, drainage works and kerbing and was completed in September 2010. The walk- way will be unveiled later this year.