A series of upgrades have been called for in the Bernard Mc Glinchey Town Park in Letterkenny to match its growth in popularity.
Extra toilets, more benches and more car parking spaces were sought during a meeting of Letterkenny-Milford councillors today.
Cllr Gerry McMonagle said that new public toilets must be developed to include accessible facilities and baby changing.
The current situation has two portable toilets in place while the old automatic toilet is being reconditioned. The new coffee shop at the Vestry is also providing public toilet facilities.
Cllr McMonagle said that one toilet “isn’t going to cut it” and is “degrading the park and people using the park.”
“We have thousands of people visiting the park regularly. We have extended it with the skate park, we have a gym, we run many events and one toilet isn’t going to cut it, and it hasn’t,” Cllr McMonaggle.
“There is no changing facilities and it’s unfair to expect the Vestry to carry the load.
“It lessens a jewel in the crown of this town,” he said.
Cllr McMonagle called on the council to look at where funding can be drawn down and put facilities in place in the next 12 to 18 months.
Bernard McGlinchey Town Park in Letterkenny, May 2022. Photo: Donegal Daily
In a separate motion, Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh asked the council to provide more seating in the main park circle.
“There are a lot of elderly people and people recovering from illness who love the park. It’s off-road, it’s quiet and it’s safe and a nice environment for people to meet one another. Two or three seats as you go around the circle would make a big difference.”
Cllr Kavanagh said the seating “wouldn’t cost a fortune” and would present an opportunity for people to have benches named in honour of people.
Cllr Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly led a motion on the need for more car parking in the park.
“The car park is still too small to meet the demand,” he said, after 12 spaces were added in 2022.
Overflow car park at Letterkenny Town Park. Photo: Donegal Daily
Cllr Kelly added that there is an issue of people parking at the town park when attending hospital appointments, saying that a parking management system should be explored for the benefit of genuine park patrons.
“We have a problem with people using the car park for different needs and it’s something we need to look into going forward,” Cllr Kelly said.
Letterkenny area Roads Engineer David McIlwaine commented that the council has put up signage to dissuade non-park users, but will look at whether there are other methods.
The council also committed to continue to explore funding options for improved toilet facilities that would include changing facilities.
A review of seating requirements in the Bernard McGlinchey Town Park is due to take place later in the year. Councillors were told that if additional seating is required and funding is available, it will be provided.