TRALEE Town Park has a brand new water refill station thanks to a Tralee Tidy Towns project which was funded by the Community Foundation for Ireland Environment and Nature (Sustainable Communities) fund and by Kerry Count Council.

The Community Foundation-funded water refill station is set off by a  custom-made stone plinth (funded by the Kerry County Council Tralee MD team) which features the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ‘wheel’ and the symbols for SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production).

The refill station will work towards achieving SDGs 6 and 12 through free access to clean water and by facilitating a reduction in single-use plastic respectively.

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Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Johnnie Wall welcomed the installation of the water dispenser in the town park which is located near the gate across from the Ashe Memorial Hall and where the Park Run starts every Saturday morning.

“This is a great example of collaborative work between Tralee Tidy Towns and Tralee Municipal District. The environmentally friendly initiative is a wonderful addition to our Green Flag accredited town park and no doubt will be appreciated by the thousands of users of the park”.

Martha Farrell of Tralee Tidy Towns said; “we are very grateful to the Community foundation of Ireland and to Kerry County Council Tralee MD for their support of this project. We are delighted to see the water dispenser installed in the town park – it will be a welcome addition for all those who enjoy our park, for the students of the four schools situated in close proximity to the park and for all those who take part in the Park Run.

“It will make it easier for those who have made the switch to the more sustainable reusable water bottles to refill their bottles.   It is also a visible reminder of the UN Sustainable Development Goals for all those using the park.”

Denise Charlton, Chief Executive with The Community Foundation for Ireland added: “Our mission is for equality for all in thriving communities. We are delighted to partner with the strong community spirit in Tralee to deliver a water dispenser which not only responds to a need but also is an attractive addition to the town. It is our hope that it will continue to serve both local people and visitors for many years to come.”

THE results of a survey on Tralee Town Park shows that members of the public in town would recommend the facility to visitors, but more needs to be done in terms of safety and some other facilities.

The findings of the survey were presented at the Tralee Municipal District meeting of Kerry County Council on Monday by Tralee MD Officer Jean Foley.

Respondents were asked how likely they were to recommend visiting the Park to a friend with a rating of 1 (‘highly unlikely’) to 10 (‘highly likely’). The mean rating was 7.21 with 66% giving a rating of 7 or higher and 10% giving a rating of 3 or under.

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They were also asked to rate the facilities in the Park with a choice of five ratings of ‘Excellent’, ‘Very Good’, ‘Good’, ‘Poor’ and ‘Very Poor’.

When it came to ‘Trees and Plants’ and ‘Green Spaces’, 94% of respondents gave a rating of ‘Good’ or higher. ‘Entrances’ and ‘Accessibility’ also had high ratings of 93% of ‘Good’ or higher, the Rose Garden scored well too (91% ‘Good’ or higher) as did ‘Paths’ (85%), ‘Garden Of The Senses’ (84%) and the ‘Playground’ (83%).

Facilities and features which didn’t fare as well, scoring a rating of ‘Poor’ or ‘Very Poor’ with respondents, were ‘Safety’ (47%), ‘Parking’ (46%), ‘Seating’ (44%) and ‘Toilets’ (41%).

When asked what improvements should be made to the Park, 27% of respondents said ‘Safety and Security’ needs to be stepped up and 21% cited ‘Amenity and Convenience’ with emphasis on the toilet facilities.

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When they were asked for ‘Suggested New Features’, 22% wanted better ‘Management and Maintenance’, 16% said ‘Leisure Sport and Fitness’ facilities and 16% said more ‘Flora and Fauna’.

When asked what events respondents attended in the Town Park, 43% said Rose of Tralee related events, 19% said the Féile na mBláth and 10% said the Park Run.

The Council’s survey was completed by 1,467 people between January and February of this year, distributed online via Survey Monkey and physically by local schools, by NEWKD to community interest groups and in county buildings — Tralee Library and Tralee MD office.

64% of the respondents were aged between 25 and 64, 18% were aged under 18, 10 between 18 and 24 and eight aged 65 or over.

The results of the survey will now be used for the development of a Town Park Strategy to guide future maintenance, management and development of the Park.

AN Taisce has awarded a Green Flag for Tralee Town Park for the first time.

Only awarded for exceeding tough environmental standards in green space management, and excellence of visitor attractions – the Green Flag Award for Parks is the mark of a quality park or green space and is recognised throughout the world.

Back in November 2018, the then Mayor of Tralee Cllr Graham Spring put forward a motion at a meeting of Tralee Municipal District councillors, to consider applying for the the Green Flag considering the reception that this award receives both nationally and internationally in relation to quality and attractiveness of green spaces.

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Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Terry O’Brien said the announcement is wonderful news for Tralee: “I have always remarked that Tralee Town Park is the jewel in the crown of our beautiful town. This will help to further raise the profile of this fabulous amenity at the heart of the town centre. I want to pay tribute to the staff of Tralee Municipal District, our gardeners, and to park users generally for helping to achieve this very significant award for the Town Park.”

In all, 84 Irish Parks and Gardens from across the Republic of Ireland will receive their 2020 Green Flags, including Childers Park and Woodlands in Listowel.”

The 2020 awards were available to public town parks, country parks, gardens, cemeteries, nature parks and green spaces from across the whole country.

BECAUSE of the current public health emergency and the coronavirus pandemic, Kerry County Council has closed its playgrounds from Saturday morning (including in Tralee Town Park) and is also closing Tralee Regional Sports and Leisure Complex and Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre.

Kerry County Council is also asking members of the public to engage with its staff by telephone and/or email in the first instance.

From Monday, 16 March, dedicated phone numbers are being provided for the following services and where a member of the public requires a meeting with a staff member, they are asked to make contact by telephone in advance to arrange an appointment:

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• Housing – 066 7183680 – housing@kerrycoco.ie
• Planning – 066 7183582 – plan@kerrycoco.ie
• Motor Tax – 066 7122300 – www.motortax.ie

Kerry County Council offices will continue to receive payments in the normal way either in person or online at www.kerrycoco.ie

Other contact details and information about council services are available on the council’s website, www.kerrycoco.ie and the main contact number for Kerry County Council is 066 7183500

MEMBERS of the public are being invited to have their say on the future of Tralee Town Park.

Kerry County Council is currently developing a strategic plan for the park and is inviting submissions and opinions from park users and the wider public.

Tralee Town Park is one of the largest urban public parks in Ireland. It covers an area of 35 acres and comprises manicured gardens, walkways, a wide array of tree species, a community garden, the Rose Garden, a large playground and much more.

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Tralee Municipal District of Kerry County Council is asking people to complete an online survey which can be found on the homepage of Kerry County Council’s website www.kerrycoco.ie.

Copies of the survey are also available at County Buildings in Rathass, Tralee Library and the Tralee Municipal District offices at Princes Quay. Local secondary schools have also come on board and will be out and about over the coming weeks in Tralee Town Centre encouraging and assisting the general public to complete the surveys.

Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Jim Finucane said that the Town Park is a gem at the heart of Tralee and that its future development must have the input of the general public at its heart.

“This wonderful amenity belongs to the people of Tralee and the wider county so we want to hear what they have to say – what should be done to improve facilities, how can the park be improved, what more needs to be done to promote the park. I also want to thank the local Secondary Schools for coming forward to work with the Council to encourage everyone to complete the survey.”

Municipal District Officer, Jean Foley, said: “The strategy being developed will examine the resources, facilities, activities and potential uses of The Green to determine how the current provisions can be improved for all to enjoy.

‘The community’s views are fundamental in the formation of this strategy. As a first step in the consultation process, Kerry County Council has developed this questionnaire to assist in ascertaining your views and vision. We are encouraging everyone to have their say.”

The closing date for receipt of completed surveys is Friday, February 21, 2020. The initiative is supported by Tralee Chamber Alliance, IT Tralee, North East and West Kerry Development and local secondary schools.

TRALEE Town Park is to see upgrading works in the near future including the provision of inclusive play equipment.

Following a motion from Cllr Jim Finucane, where he asked the Council to look at the further enhancement and development of the play area in the park, Council management replied that recent upgrading works have just been undertaken to the surface of the playground.

Also, power washing of the surface was to take place after the Easter school holidays. Tenders have been received for the provision of inclusive play equipment in a €35,000 expansion to the facility.  It is hoped this will start in six weeks but it is dependent on equipment delivery lead in periods.

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Cllr Finucane welcomed the funding and said more needed to be done to market the playground which is a great asset to the town park.

Cllr Terry O’Brien, while welcoming the funding, said the Council needed to do something in co-operation with the gardai, to prevent the playground from being overrun by teenagers and older children. He said the area needs to be policed properly.

KERRY County Council are to look into installing an adult exercise facility in Tralee Town Park.

Mayor of Tralee, Norma Foley, asked the local authority to investigate the potential of installing the facility.

The Council said it would investigate the feasibility of the request and they would look at possible locations to identify the most suitable one.

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The provision of the equipment will be contingent on finding the location and a funding source. Cllr Foley said it was important to pursue this project as it has huge potential and would be very positive for Tralee.

Cllr Toireasa Ferris agreed and said facilities like this can be seen all over the world and it can only be a positive thing for people to be more active.