Development of Cleveragh Lands as a Regional Park

Executive Summary

Sligo Local Authorities recognise the importance of the adequate provision of conveniently located open space throughout the city and environs and both authorities are currently undertaking a major programme of investment in recreational infrastructure to cater for the growing population of Sligo and to ensure proper provision of active and passive recreation facilities for the city. The provision of adequate recreational infrastructure for the South Eastern quadrant of the city can be addressed in the context of Sligo’s Gateway City status and the current unique opportunity for regeneration and renewal of the area. Given the broader picture of regeneration of the South Eastern quadrant of Sligo City and the recognition of the importance of recreational infrastructure Sligo Local Authorities seek to create three recreational zones of the new ‘Cleveragh Regional Park’ immediately and the fourth recreational zone at a later stage as the broader Eastern quadrant master plan is finalised.

People are attracted to live, work, visit and invest in areas which have good quality developed green recreational infrastructure. It is the objective of the Local Authorities to develop Cleveragh Regional Park for recreational purposes and to establish a comprehensive range of recreational infrastructure including walking and cycling tracks, parkland amenities and playing pitches, regional water sport facilities, regional outdoor activity centre, regional playground facilities and extensive areas for active and passive recreation. Green recreational infrastructure is a key to healthier lifestyles, sustainable urban drainage, lifelong learning, providing space for relaxation and education, encouraging more sustainable transport, and promoting economic development.

The objectives of the proposed developments at Cleveragh Regional Park are the development of the amenity, recreational and tourism potential of the site to provide for passive and active recreation whilst ensuring that the landscape value of Cleveragh open space will be protected and enhanced. Proposed works will be delivered as per the drawings provided and in line with the detailed costing information.

Gateway Innovation funding for Cleveragh Regional Park will realise a series of important outcomes namely:-

• Improved social cohesion within the eastern quadrant with recreational outlets assisting with the under pinning and development of social integration and community structures.
• Trust and buy in from the community for regeneration and the development of the eastern quadrant and facilitation of socio– economic progress.
• Increased quality of life for all the residents with access to a diverse range of recreational opportunities.
• More people, more active, more often with consequent health benefits, feel good factor and general uplifting of the area.
• A destination recreational centre for Sligo city and the development of a unique and beautiful recreational amenity incorporating a range of regional facilities serving both Sligo and the regional hinterland.
• Attraction of business and tourism to a location with high quality recreational infrastructure and services and the boosting of Sligo’s reputation as a recreational and tourism destination.

Download Aerial Overview - Cleveragh Regional Park Recreational Zones - 580 kbs

Download  Cleveragh Regional Park - Outline of Key Recreational Zones - 630 kbs

 

 

 

 

Policy Principles and Approaches

In developing the landscape and recreation regeneration strategy for Cleveragh Regional Park the local authorities have been guided by the following policies:

• Sustainable Development A Strategy for Ireland, 1997
• The National Spatial Strategy, 2002-2020
• Department of the Environment (D.O.E.) – A Parks Policy for Local Authorities (1987)
• Sligo County Development Board – An integrated economic, social and cultural strategy for Sligo (2002-2012)
• Sligo Sports and Recreation Partnership Strategic Plan 2007-2012, 2003-2007
• Sligo Sports and Recreational Facilities and Action Strategy : A Framework for Action (1997)
• National Playing Fields Association – The Six Acre Standard (Minimum standards for outdoor playing space)(1989)
• Sligo and Environs Development Plan 2004-2010
• Sligo County Development Plan (2004-2009)

Project Rationale

The benefits of good urban green space are diverse and wide ranging. Successful cities – where people are attracted to live work, visit and invest have successful green recreational infrastructure. There is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates how green spaces can offer lasting economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits. Research by CABE “Space in the UK” confirms the link between high quality green spaces and increased house prices; their benefits in improving the image of the area and attracting investment; their contribution to biodiversity; their contribution to promoting exercise and the benefits to health; and the role of public space design and management in tackling social issues such as anti social behaviour. Ninety one per cent of people in the UK say that parks and public spaces improve people’s quality of life. There is compelling evidence of the value of urban green spaces for quality of life. Well developed recreational infrastructure can have a major positive impact on local communities.

High quality green space at Cleveragh Regional Park will allow Sligo Local Authorities to leverage wider development of residential, commercial and industrial activity in the South Eastern quadrant of the city. The park can be used as a marketing and branding tool for investment. The pedestrian and cycle way linkages across the Garvoge river will link communities and create a linked network of city wide parks. A strong green transport link will be created between East and West Sligo with significant benefits for tourism development at Hazelwood and Cleveragh and connectivity benefits for developing communities at Ballinode and the North fringe of the city. Creating a strong and compelling vision for high quality green space can help to overcome negative perceptions of growth. The radical vision for Cleveragh Regional Park places green recreational infrastructure at the heart of the development process and the park can become a proud symbol of the area. The park strategy can provide an effective structure for the regeneration planning of a wider area. It is anticipated that this will attract inward investment and provide a clear focus for health, education, housing, economic development and tourism.

Providing for the recreational and leisure needs of the community will assist the economic development of the city and will increase Sligo’s attractiveness as a place for business investment , to live, work and take our leisure.

Project Description

The landscape structure of the master plan for Cleveragh Regional Park reflects the importance of the natural environment and conceives the creation of a mosaic of green recreational infrastructure comprising a multi functional network of linked spaces formed from four distinct recreation zones.

Each zone will have an amazing variety of landscape character, recreational opportunity and function. Cleveragh Regional Park will be developed with four distinct quality recreational zones each presenting a set of specific recreational opportunities. The park will be the focus of the existing and developing communities and will be a showcase of best practice for urban renewal providing an integrated and connected network of complementary urban green spaces. An ecological approach to landscape design will be the basis for the new development. This approach will have a strong resonance with the public and can be used for branding and promotion.

Four new recreational zones will be created to achieve the multi functional network of green space :-

RECREATIONAL ZONE 1- CLEVERAGH PARKLAND OPPOSITE REGIONAL SPORTS CENTRE

The multi functional network of linked green recreational space will include:-

• Playing pitches
• Regional children’s playground
• Car parking and roads infrastructure
• Pavilion for sports clubs
• Parkland, seating, landscaped areas
• Walking and cycling tracks
• Public art

- Cleveragh Regional Park - Recreational Zone 1 / Part of Zone 2

Download Cleveragh Regional Park - Recreational Zone 1 / Part of Zone 2 - 860 kbs

RECREATIONAL ZONE 2 - DOORLY PARK AND CLEVERAGH WATER PARK

The area is comprised of Doorly Park with associated Garvoge river and an undeveloped wet woodland habitat . A developed walking trail winds its way along the southern bank of the Garvoge river from which one can enjoy river and mountain scenery. A series of ponds and ditches were excavated in the nineteenth century and have been planted with dry woodland species. The landscape is of a woodland canopy with a marshy understorey which provides for uniformity of landscape character in the woodland areas. The presence of the abrupt edge of undeveloped unplanted parkland adjacent to the road edge on the southern perimeter is detrimental to the visual quality of the landscape. The wetland habitat has been incorporated into the Lough Gill Special Area of Conservation.

The development in this recreation zone will include :

• Multi use games area
• Sand carpet under age pitch
• Looped walking and cycling tracks
• Nodal activity trail, play areas
• Jungle outdoor activity area
• Car park
• Upgraded landing stage
• River walk
• Garden of reflections
• Promenade , beach area
• Access road, car parking , water sports club house
• Pontoon(s), Slipway(s)
• Parkland
• Public art
• Cleveragh Forest Park including interpretative signage and trails

- Cleveragh Regional Park - Recreational Zone 2 - Doorly Park Woodland/Gardens

Download   Cleveragh Regional Park - Recreational Zone 2 - Doorly Park Woodland/Gardens - 653 kbs



- Cleveragh Regional Park - Recreational Zone 2 - Doorly Park Water Sports

Download  Cleveragh Regional Park - Recreational Zone 2 - Doorly Park Water Sports - 725 kbs

RECREATIONAL ZONE 3 - CLEVERAGH OUTDOOR ACTIVITY CENTRE

Loss of racecourse lands (currently zoned open space) will be offset by the acquisition of additional open space lands along the scenic Green road overlooking Lough Gill in compliance with existing zoning and council objectives in Sligo and Environs Development Plan 2004-2010. Additional open space will be utilised for a diverse range of recreational opportunity.

The development will include

• Looped walking and cycling tracks
• Nodal activity trail, play areas
• Access road , car parking, out door activity centre
• Bridge crossing to link cycling and walking tracks from Cleveragh to Hazelwood , Ballinode and the North fringe of Sligo City
• Adventure play facility
• Car park
• Slipways and pontoons
• River walks
• Access roads, car parking
• Walking links to Holy Well, Cairns forest, Hazelwood
• Parkland
• Public art

- Cleveragh Regional Park - Recreational Zone 3 - Outdoor Activity Centre/New Footbridge

Download  Cleveragh Regional - Recreational Park Zone 3 - Outdoor Activity Centre / New Footbridge - 784 kbs

RECREATIONAL ZONE 4 - CLEVERAGH RACECOURSE AND CLEVERAGH REGIONAL SPORTS CENTRE

It is proposed that the existing racecourse be relocated to open up business and housing opportunity and a new Sligo Racecourse be developed at an alternative location. The loss of this green space will be offset by the acquisition of additional open space lands along the scenic Green road overlooking Lough Gill in compliance with existing zoning and council objectives in Sligo and Environs Development Plan 2004-2010.

Given that no master plan has yet been finalised for the Zone 4 area it not currently proposed to develop or upgrade existing recreational facilities in this zone. The nature and extent of recreational infrastructure development in this zone will depend on the new master plan for the area. However it is vital that a swimming pool, learn to swim facility, indoor facilities and a range of outdoor and indoor hard recreational infrastructure is provided within the new master plan for the zone. The current regional sports facility is approaching mid to late life cycle and requires significant investment and redevelopment. It is considered that the regional sports facility should be located in close proximity to the newly developed facilities in recreational Zones 1,2,3.

- Cleveragh Regional Park - Overall Masterplan

Download Cleveragh Regional Park - Overall Masterplan - 1,029 kbs

Collaboration in Cleveragh Regional Park Project

The strategic framework for the development of the Cleveragh Regional Park project was embedded in the Sligo and Environs Development Plan. In the preparation of this plan Sligo local authorities engaged in an extensive consultation process and obtained statutory approval for the plan through the council. In addition the Project Manager worked with the Sligo Sports and Recreation Partnership and the Sligo County Development Board in the preparation of their strategic plans. Within both plans the delivery of Cleveragh Regional Park is an objective. The members are as follows:

• Sligo VEC
• Sligo Borough Council
• Sligo Institute of Technology
• Sligo County Council
• Health Service Executive
• FÁS
• Sligo Leader Partnership Co
• Sligo Regional Sport Centre
• Sligo Community Games
• People with Disabilities
• Active Age Group
• Sports Clubs
• Sligo Community Forum representative
• Enterprise Ireland
• Department of Social, Family and Community Affairs
• Agricultural and Farming sector
• IDA
• An Garda Siochana
• Teagasc
• Community
• Sligo County Childcare Committee
• Western Development Commission

As part of the process of developing the CDB and Sligo Sports and Recreation Strategies the Parks Department were drivers of the Recreation element. 

Costs

	Year
	Pre 2007	2007	2008	2009	2010	Total
	€	€	€	€	€	€
Expenditure
Payments to Main Contractor	82,404	25,907	7,300,000	9,000,000	6,936,397	23,344,708
Consultants Fees / Project Management	29,675	4,477	450,000	450,000	487,322	1,421,474
Legal Fees						0
Specialist Fees						0
Land Acquisition						0
Miscellaneous	1,542					1,542
Total Expenditure	113,621	30,384	7,750,000	9,450,000	7,423,719	24,767,724
Income
Gateway Innovation Fund			6,200,000	7,560,000	2,892,318	16,652,318
Other Government Funding			1,884,203	1,884,203	127,000	3,895,406
Sligo Local Authorities - Revenue						0
Sligo Local Authorities - Capital	220,000			1,000,000	3,000,000	4,220,000
Private Investment						0
Total Income	220,000	0	8,084,203	10,444,203	6,019,318	24,767,724
Balance	-106,379	30,384	-334,203	-994,203	1,404,401	0

Estimated costs of initial developments of Cleveragh Regional Park

(Costs prepared for Recreational zones 1,2,and 3 only)

Total Cost €24,767,7 24

Source of Funding	Amount Secured
Dept of the Environment, Heritage and Local Gov.	3,000,000
Dept of Arts, Sport and Tourism (DAST)	545,000
Top up RAPID funding	51,000
Failte Ireland	93,406
FAI (plus DAST)	10,000
INTERREG	100,000
Playground Grant Scheme	60,000
RAPID playground scheme	36,000
TOTAL FUNDING SECURED TO DATE	€3,895,406

Funding Sought from Gateway Innovation Fund €16,652,318

Conclusion

The advantages of Cleveragh Regional Park that emerge from the redevelopment are manifold including:

• Cleveragh Regional Park development can provide for a major portion of the active and passive demands of a growing urban population.
• The park has a significant ecological role to play in the preservation of interesting and diverse habitats creating opportunities for informal education e.g. environmental studies or nature walks.
• Cleveragh Regional Park can provide a destination recreational activity area catering for a diverse range of active recreation and passive recreation in an integrated parkland setting.

Risk Analysis

Severity Scale

• 5 Very Severe
• 4 Severe
• 3 Moderate
• 2 Small impact
• 1 Little or no impact on the project

Risk of Occurrence

• 5 Definitely will occur
• 4 High risk of occurrence
• 3 Moderate possibility of occurrence
• 2 Small possibility
• 1 Unlikely possibility of occurrence

Risk Response

• Avoidance: Consequences are avoided by changing the project Plan.
• Transfer: Transfer the consequences ownership and responsibility of the risk to a third party.
• Mitigation: Reduction of the probability and/or severity of a risk to an acceptable threshold.
• Acceptance: Accepting the consequences of the risk by developing a contingency plan or by accepting the impact of the risk

Risk Description	Severity	Risk of Occurrence	Risk Score	Risk Response	Risk Response	Severity	Risk of Occurrence	Risk Score
Insufficient capital funding to develop Cleveragh Regional Park	5	3	15	All available funding trands utilised to establish sufficient funding for the project	Mitigation	5	1	5
Planning issues	5	2	10	Public Consultation, Pre Planning Consultation and high quality design	Mitigation	5	1	5
Cost Over-Runs	5	4	20	Introduction of fixed price Contract and high quality design at inception	Transfer and Mitigation	4	1	4
Quality of Contractor(s)	5	3	15	Pre qualification Process for Contractors	Mitigation	5	2	10
Unknown Services at subterranean level	5	1	5	Extensive research and recording of location and extent of existing Services	Mitigation	4	1	4
Poor quality facility will be developed	4	3	12	Professional design input from Parks professionals	Mitigation	4	2	8
Management of Project	5	3	15	Selection of Consultant Landscape Architects by way of framework short list to manage a Landscape based contract	Mitigation	4	2	8
Archaeological Finds	4	3	12	Archaeological assessment carried out during investigative works	Mitigation	4	2	8
Insufficient maintenance funding with consequent steady decline in quality post construction	5	4	20	All available funding strands utilised to establish sufficient maintenance funding for the project. Central government to be encouraged to develop new local authority parks and open space funding mechanisms to support development of green space by local authorities outside Dublin	Mitigation and Acceptance	5	3	15
New development may destroy much of what is valued at Cleveragh Regional Park	5	3	15	Strong design and landscape planning with ongoing quality maintenance	Mitigation	4	1	4