Reopen St Catheines Playground!

I am setting up this petition in relation to St Catherine's Estate Playground, Rush, Co Dublin. 

I had previously got in contact with fingal county council on the 23/08/2019 re the same and again on the 05/03/2020.

The playground has now been closed for at least a year or even longer. 

When I last got in touch, I was trying to find out what maintenance work is due to be carried out and what the time frame was for reopening... unfortunately at that time, I wasnt given either piece of information, I was only told that there is work needed but that their was no timeframe or date able to be provided. 

Then, when the longer evenings were coming in, the better weather was approaching with it been the start of spring, and given that several months had passed since I last spoke or heard from the council, I was hopeful that then (in March 2020) the council must have had some indication of what work needs to be carried out and when the playground will be re opened?? 

When I made contact again in march 2020, I was told that my email would be forwarded to the revalant department. I never received a response. I reached out to local Tds, and 1 TD did come back to me and told me that she too had contacted the council in relation to opening up this playground. She kindly forwarded me on their response that she had received. A similar response to what I had received myself. 

There is no other playground for the children for 2km. The playground has always been used by many, daily. The school and Montessori next to the playground also made use of its facility's and many of the school children enjoyed going to the playground with their parents after school. It was a real meeting point for some parents and offered great socialization for many. It's such a shame to see it closed, un maintained and no effort to get it up and running again.

As summer is here now, I strongly urge the council to make a move on getting this playground up and running. I'm aware the tarmac needs to be re done.. as well as other works. 

Of course I'm not pushing for the playground to open right now mid pandemic, but I do believe that the work could soon be carried out and the playground could reopen when the playgrounds around the country open. 

If the residents could assist the council in any way with the playground, by maybe having a clean up of the area surrounding it and in it and cleaning down equipment... I will gladly try to organise such a thing. 

I really want to see this playground re opened, as do many. 

So, another resident Carol Hoey and myself (Emma Fay), have started this petition for you to sign in your support. We intend to forward this petition to fingal CoCo, along with a video recorded at the playground outlining what needs to be addressed. 

Thank you guys for your help! Lets get the playground reopened! 

Yours faithfully,

Emma Fay. 

Parents association member

Residents association member

Mother of 2 young children who miss the playground terribly and remind me daily!