Galway City Council has welcomed the decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála to grant planning consent for a landmark public realm project at Kingston Park and Millers Lane Park - marking a significant milestone in the delivery of this transformative community amenity for Knocknacarra, Rahoon and the wider Galway City area. The decision was followed by a further positive update, with €7.5 million funding announced by Minister James Browne through the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund this week, to commence the delivery of the overall project with the An Tús Kingston Project, to deliver phase one of the New Kingston Public Park.
The overall Kingston and Millers Lane Public Parks and Public Urban Realm Project will deliver new sports facilities and pitches, community buildings, enhanced public open spaces, climate initiatives, safe routes to school facilities, event spaces, café facilities, improved walking and cycling connections, biodiversity enhancements, and a range of recreational facilities designed to support active lifestyles and community wellbeing.
Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Helen Ogbu said, “I welcome the decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála to grant approval for Galway’s new transformative Neighbourhood Parks at Kingston Park and Millers Lane, Rahoon. This exciting project now has the green light to proceed, delivering state-of-the-art sports facilities for hockey, soccer, rugby, handball, rounders, boules cricket as well as numerous facilities and amenities for children and young people.”
Leonard Cleary, Chief Executive, Galway City Council said, “The Kingston Park and Millers Lane project reflects Galway City Council's commitment to delivering accessible, inclusive and sustainable public spaces. The grant of planning permission represents a major achievement for Galway City Council and the wider project team. Thank you to the Elected Members for their support getting this project to this important milestone, and to every individual who engaged with the public consultations, shared feedback, drummed up support and came with us every step of the way. With planning approval now secured, and a significant initial investment of €7.5 million by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage this week, the project moves a step closer to delivery, bringing the vision for Kingston Park and Millers Lane to life and creating a valuable community asset that will benefit current and future generations.”
The new multi-functional buildings in the project will provide changing facilities, sensory rooms, community useable kitchenettes, externally accessible public toilets and showers, a large sports hall, meeting and activity rooms, weather protected viewing terraces, a commentary booth, a café that includes an external covered plaza and external services for catering vehicles and events.
The buildings are designed to achieve high energy and environmental compliance under the international LEED Standard and will include Solar Panels, Rainwater Re-Use, Passive Ventilation, EV car and bicycle charging points, and self-charging public lighting.
The new parks will include new public spaces, a main public plaza, an outdoor classroom amphitheatre, a main tree lined promenade avenue, children’s play areas, walking and cycling routes, multi-use games courts, a callisthenics park, two new carparks including Safe Routes to School for the St. John the Apostle National School and spaces for buses, Family Spaces, Age friendly spaces and Disability spaces. There will also be parking for bicycles including cargo bikes and a secure bike storage shed.
There will be extensive landscape planting, rain gardens, pollinator friendly meadows, native hedgerows, naturalised wooded areas (including native species), colourful shrubs, perennials and seasonal bulbs.
The project was developed through a collaborative multidisciplinary team comprising Galway City Council, MKO, DRLA, Punch Consulting Engineers, Quinn Architects, Moloney Fox, TC Estimating, Meehan Greene, Jensen Hughes and Hayden Turfcare – in consultation (3 Stages) with local community representative groups; residents; sports clubs and bodies; schools; businesses, state agencies, Galway City Council Departments and the Elected Members, working together to progress a much-needed project for the area.
Patrick Greene, Director of Services, Galway City Council acknowledged the support of all those involved in getting the project to the point of planning consent, saying, "A huge amount of work has gone into getting the Kingston and Millers Lane project to this stage and we look forward to the next stages and support to continue and realise the projects on the ground. Thank you to Stephen Walsh, our Senior Executive Parks Superintendent, Senior Engineer Sharon Connolly, all the staff who assisted within Galway City Council for leading out and delivering the project with our partners at MKO Consulting, and the wider project team including Dermot Ryan Landscape Architecture, Quinn Architects, PUNCH Consulting Engineers, TC Estimating QS, Maloney Fox Consulting M&E Engineers, Meehan Greene, Jensen Hughes and Hayden Turfcare. Thank you to the public and Elected Members for your support to date, and we welcome further engagement with you as this project progresses and becomes a reality”.
This is the first and most advanced of three large scale groundbreaking projects for Galway. Galway City Council will be bringing two more forward for Planning Approval, with the South Park and Renmore Neighbourhood Masterplans. These projects will deliver on much needed public realm, amenity and sport infrastructure and contribute in a very significant way to a future modern and sustainable Galway City.
Read more about the Kingston Millers Lane project at https://kingstonparkmillerslane.com/