Planters & park seating for Kilcullen

KILCULLEN Community Action’s June meeting heard updates on a range of community improvement projects across the town, from floral displays and new street planters to the replacement of well-used picnic seating in the Valley riverside park.

Chair Noel Clare said the installation of this year’s flower boxes for the Kilcullen In Bloom initiative is almost complete, with many of the plants having been propagated in KCA’s own polytunnel.

The meeting also heard that high-quality planters incorporating seating have been ordered for the newly upgraded footpath areas in downtown Kilcullen. Noel Clare said it had initially been understood that there was no public budget available for street furniture, but that support has now been secured from Kildare County Council, the contractor, and a sponsor. A total of five units are on order from Naas-based Omos Ltd, makers of award-winning public realm furnishings, while the council and contractor are to provide a further four units. 

Three of the units are to be placed along the O’Connells/River Café section, with two planned for the McTernans area.

The group also discussed ongoing engagement with local businesses on coordinating the design of day-to-day street tables, with a plan being prepared for submission to the council as part of a licensing application.

Meanwhile, business donations have been received to meet the €2,400 cost of replacing picnic tables and seats in the Valley park, where three existing units have reached the end of their usable life.

“When we were cleaning and painting the seats in advance of the Family Fun Day, we found that some of them were beginning to fall apart,” the chair told the meeting. 

He said the intention is to replace them with seats made from recycled plastic, similar to materials already used in a number of seats, tables, and flower containers around the town. 

He noted the strong level of public use of the Valley seating since it was reintroduced several years ago. 

“It’s particularly great for the young people who want to go somewhere to just hang out. If you go down there in fine weather, you’ll find every seat and every picnic table in use.” 

The meeting also expressed appreciation to Paul Mullen of the Lemongrass restaurant in Carlow for donating four table sets to KCA. 

One has been placed in the Valley, one beside the river near the square, and two near the Coffee Hatch at the Community Centre.

The next meeting of Kilcullen Community Action, which is open to all, will take place on Monday 13 July, at 8pm.