The Ferrybank Neighbourhood Park was the centre of attention this morning as the Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Fidelis Doherty and Mayor of Waterford City and County Council, Cllr. Joe Kelly marked the official opening of the new neighbourhood park.
Construction on the park began in 2019, and it opened for use in October of 2020. It secured funding from the Department of Local Government under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) together with funding from Waterford City and County Council and Kilkenny County Council.
The facilities include a playground, a meeting point for teenagers, an outdoor gym, a kickabout area, a walking track, tree planting, a wildflower meadow and a terraced seating area for informal gatherings and events.
Local residents were involved in the planning and design of the Park through a public consultation process carried out by Kilkenny County Council while local primary school children got an opportunity to test out the ziplines, roundabouts and swings on its official opening
Here's what second class at St.Mary's Boys National School think of the park... Listen to the player below:
Mayor of Waterford City and County Council, Cllr. Joe Kelly, in addressing those at the event said: “Waterford City and County Council are delighted and proud to be associated with this Project. It is a wonderful addition to community life in the Ferrybank area. It is great to see projects like this come to fruition and I know the Park will have a long-lasting and positive impact on the lives of local residents.”
Cathaoirleach of Kikenny County Council, Glenmore Cllr. Fidelis Doherty explained that the benefits of the Park to the community are far-reaching saying “This Neighbourhood Park is a welcoming addition to our Parks and Green spaces and will play a major role in improving the health and well-being of the people of Kilkenny and Waterford.
"With South East Greenway cycling and walking route from Waterford to New Ross which passes close to the Park currently under construction, the future is certainly bright in terms of the availability of amenity facilities for both local residents and visitors to Ferrybank.”
