Two Cork playgrounds share €30k refurbishment funding windfall

More than €30,000 has been allocated for the refurbishment of two playgrounds in Cork as part of the Government’s Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation.

The funding, announced by the minister for children, disability and equality, Norma Foley, will see one playground in Cork city and one playground in Cork county refurbished and upgraded with a focus on inclusion and access for all users.

This includes the installation of wheelchair-accessible seesaws, inclusive sensory playground equipment and inclusive play spaces, and upgraded accessibility features.

The scheme offers maximum funding of up to €20,000 per project, with a total of 28 playgrounds allocated funding nationwide for 2025.

Those allocated funding in Cork include the Gerry O’Sullivan Park in the Knocknaheeny/Churchfield area, which will see a funding injection of €12,221 for a playground upgrade, and the Castlelyons playground, which will see a funding allocation of €18,887 for a playground refurbishment. T

his brings the total amount allocated to playgrounds under the scheme in 2025 in Cork to €31,108.

Interact

As part of the consultation process for the scheme, it was obligatory for councils to interact with local children and young people to receive any grant funding under the initiative.

Councils also had to provide matching funding of at least 25% of the cost of the project.

“I am delighted to see this funding for playgrounds that will benefit so many children in Cork,” said Fine Gael Cork North Central TD, Colm Burke.

“We want to see these upgrades so that our playgrounds are more accessible, inclusive, and enjoyable for all children.

“I look forward to seeing the completed project in Gerry O’Sullivan Park — I know this project will have a major impact on the vibrancy of our local community,” he added.

Upgrades

Meanwhile Sinn Féin Cork East TD, Pat Buckley said that the planned upgrades to the Castlelyons playground “will ensure it continues to serve future generations with improved equipment, accessibility features and safety enhancements”.

However, Labour Party Cork city councillor Peter Horgan said he believed the funding allocated to be “paltry”.

“Funding for an accessible playground can cost around €300,000 including enabling works. If there was a real desire to sort the capital works of playgrounds there would be a major capital allocation to ensure play areas are sorted for now and into the future,” he added.