Novel 'green' community initiative planned for east Mayo town
A NOVEL 'green' community initiative is planned for Swinford.
Mayo County Council, jointly with ‘Swinford 250’ and Swinford Tidy Towns, has announced a proposed landmark landscape project to create a new green park for the local community.
'Swinford 250’ celebrated the town turning 250 years old in 2019 and it is planned that this new public park will see those celebrations live on.
The proposed location is adjacent to ‘the Procession of the Souls’ installation on the Dublin Road.
Swinford 250 and Mayo County Council have invited 22 students and three professors of UCD’s School of Landscape Architecture to visit Swinford today (Monday) as part of a competition to create the best design for the new public park.
During their visit the students will avail of the opportunity to visit, other areas of Swinford and its hinterland.
The landscape architecture students will meet with representatives of Mayo County Council and ‘Swinford 250’ committee for an informative presentation about the great history of Swinford and the requirements of the project, they will then visit the park site and be given a tour of the town.
This will help inform the students of the day-to-day life of the people of Swinford and give them an understanding of the requirements of a landscaped green space that will be both bio-diverse and accessible.
On returning to UCD they will focus on a study of the Green Infrastructure of the town and each create an individual design for the competition.
Representatives of ‘Swinford 250’ and Mayo County Council will then travel to UCD to assess and shortlist the projects.
Four runners-up will receive a prize of €500 each with the winner receiving a prize of €1,000 and their project will be delivered on the site by Mayo County Council and the Swinford Community.
Senior executive architect with Mayo County Council, Matt Stevens, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to introduce a creatively landscaped park within the historical town of Swinford.
"Well-designed landscaping sensitive to the history of the site improves the quality of life of the people living and working in the town, it promotes sustainability and helps create healthier, more beautiful and more liveable neighbourhoods.
"It fights pollutants and encourages town dwellers to spend time outside, which is better for their health and for the community.”
The winning design will be presented to the public in the coming months, anyone interested in finding out more information about the project, interested in fundraising or donating to the project should contact: swinford250@swinford.ie