Site: Baltinglass Park, Parkmore,

Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow.

Collaborators/Clients: Baltinglass Park Committee, Baltinglass Tidy Towns, Wicklow County Council, Leader +, OPW.

Year: 2004-06   Area: 2.5ha

Arising out of requirement identified by local community actors, the design and project management of Baltinglass Park is a true facilitation project-enabling actor collaboration from the initial design stage.

The vision of the local actors is embedded deep into the design of the park. This has strengthened the resolve needed to fund and maintain and evolve the asset.

The park is a celebration of what can be achieved when local strengths and public strengths merge in creation.

Interventions are highly sensitive to the local and borrowed landscape. Historic strengths of the ancient hill fort and rail lines are recognised. Natural assets of mature trees and river Slaney are utilised.

SAC protection to seven meters was extended to the entire park by specifying native trees, native wild flower mixed and natural management principles. Materials specification, is integrating visually, to the let the natural landscape speak.