I have recently been contacted by several local families and residents requesting that I make representation for inclusive access to our local Kilbroney Park. I distinctly remember this issue being raised as far back as 2017 during a public consultation in the Cloughmore Centre and take very seriously that these issues remain unresolved two years later.
Kilbroney Park is a local park for many but also serves as one of the main tourist destinations in the Crotlieve area and it is unacceptable that large parts of it are inaccessible to people with disabilities. It is important to ensure that the needs of all park users are fully taken into account: that people of all ages and abilities are afforded the same rights to enjoy the beauty of their local park.
This includes, but is not limited to, improvement to park barriers, gates and bridges to ensure they are widened and fully accessible for all wheelchair users: maintaining a balance between preserving the natural character of the area but creating fully accessible routes throughout the park as well.
The current park is divided based on age-appropriate play areas. This poses great difficulty if one parent is supervising a family where there is a wide age span. There is also a notable lack of inclusive, specialist play equipment which inevitably means that the facilities actively exclude many children from accessing the play area at all. The fantastic facilities at the newly upgraded Warrenpoint Municipal Park being a prime example of specialist play equipment at its very best.
I am campaigning for the installation of fully accessible picnic table areas with integrated wheelchair accessible spaces, allowing families the basic pleasure of being able to eat together. I went to Kilbroney Park this weekend with my daughter and saw a number of these issues first hand. The concrete based built picnic tables(pictured below with unicorn queen)are crudely designed and simply not wheelchair friendly.
Furthermore, I fully support the installation of changing/toilet facilities within the park to ensure accessibility and dignity for park users with limited mobility who may rely on help from one or two carers and extra equipment.
Last, but by no means least, it is time to fully integrate and enhance the current play area to include wheelchair accessible picnic tables, sensory boards, inclusive swings, ground-level accessible trampolines, wheelchair accessible roundabouts and tunnels, basket swings, reflective panels, musical sensory boards, double-width slides etc, to ensure that all children can enjoy a safe and stimulating inclusive experience in our park.
It simply is not acceptable in today’s society to fail to prioritise the needs of all our children. Their well-being is our responsibility and the creation of fully inclusive parks in Crotlieve must be a priority for our local Council.
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