RECREATION & AMENITY STRATEGY

Cork County Council and Mallow Town Council have appointed Consultants to undertake an assessment of existing community, social, recreational and public open space infrastructure in Mallow Town area to identify existing deficiencies, assess future needs.  The purpose of the project is to identify priorities and to prepare a strategy to guide future provision of such infrastructure in the area.

Background

Mallow is designated a HUB Town in the National Spatial Strategy and both Cork County Council and Mallow Town Council have adopted a Special Local Area Plan to guide the town’s development up to 2020.  This provides for a population increase from an existing level of c. 11,000 to 20,000 by 2020 and potentially to 30,000 beyond that.  Significant areas of new development land are provided for and will be the subject of a number of Master Plans which will be joint landowner/developer led but will have to be agreed with the Council prior to any development proposals being submitted for planning approval.  The existing Cork County Council Recreation and Amenity Policy and Mallow Town Council Recreation and Amenity requirements in the Town Development Plan will guide the provision of such facilities in these Master Plan Areas.

Scope of the Project

The project will involve an audit of existing community, social and recreational infrastructure in the area and will require on the ground survey work and consultation with key stakeholders.  A significant amount of data is already available on this.  The project also requires a Needs Assessment and recommendations on appropriate levels of provision, how to improve existing provision and on the options available in respect of the ownership, management and maintenance of facilities going forward.

In particular the study should:

• Undertake an analysis and assessment of the current provision and availability of Public and Private Open Space/Leisure/Community Facilities provided in Mallow.
• Against international standards of best practice and both Councils Recreation and Amenity Policies for the provision of such open space/leisure facilities, assess the adequacy of same for the current population of Mallow.
• In the context of the objective of the Mallow Special Local Area Plan to grow the population of Mallow to 30,000, present an assessment of the requirements for public open space/leisure facilities.
• Present an analysis/assessment of the role that can be played by the Mallow Town Park in meeting Mallow’s requirements for such space.
• Develop a Draft Development Plan for Mallow Town Park taking account of (c) and (d) above.
• In undertaking (e) above, full cognisance must be taken of the Office of Public Works approved Flood Relief Scheme for Mallow
• Assess the potential of the River Blackwater corridor within the study area for public amenity provision and the contribution it can make to passive tourism facilities/activities and present proposals for same.

Mallow Town Council is responsible for the maintenance of the Town Park and all public open spaces within the Town Boundary.

The following additional leisure facilities are provided:

-  Swimming Complex at New Road
-  Playgrounds at Park Road, Sandfield and Woodview Drive