A new design for refurbishment of The Plan area in Tipperary town is now out for public consultation. The small park on Davitt street is also known as Redmond Square in tribute to John Redmond(1856 – 1918), leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party
The current designs are part of a pre planning consultation process. Later this year it is hoped that a formal Part 8 Planning Application can be made to secure approval for the modifications.
The designs provided by Drake Hourigan Architects reflect public feedback to the company’s first proposal and the priority changes requested by the community. The architects are looking to make the park more accessible and to bring more people into the area. Residents and those using the park have cited the need for drainage works, repairs to the Bandstand, additional public lighting and a water connection to facilitate the maintenance of flower beds.
The designs can be viewed on the council website at this link here, in Tipperary town library and in the Council office on Rosanna Road. Public feedback can be given online at this link here or by completing the paper form provided in the library and council office. The closing date for submissions is April 17th at 5pm.
The changes include relocating the entrance points to the park back to their original points at the corners, removing the boundary wall on the Davitt street side and replacing this with a new raised planted bed, two new raised pedestrian crossings on the adjacent roadway, refurbishment of the Bandstand with a new style of roof and the removal of the railings due to the addition of an access ramp, the existing paths are to be widened and an area of hard landscaping to be provided near the bandstand featuring “grasscrete” instead of ordinary grass. There will also be some additional trees and extensive planting to create a biodiversity habitat and groundworks to improve the drainage of the green space. The existing benches will be refurbished but additional timber bench seating will be added on the Davitt street side. 8 new 5m light poles will be added close to the Davitt street side of the park with lighting also included within bollards on the Emmet Street side. A water feature will also be included that may appeal to children as water will periodically squirt upwards from a paved area on the Davitt street side of the park.
Funds from South Tipperary Development Company are covering the Design process but funding for the refurbishment works will have to be sourced before any practical work begins. The project is a collaboration between the Tipperary Revitalisation Task Force and Tipperary Tidy Towns Group.
