Woodquay residents are dismayed that their local park is to be transformed into a plaza with the removal of the railings, which they claim will encourage rowdy visitors and create a noise nuisance at night.

The design for the €1.2m upgrade of Woodquay Park was submitted this week by Galway City Council to An Bord Pleanála after two rounds of public consultation, which included talks with a local residents’ group.

These residents have been trying to get the park reimagined for many years in a bid to combat antisocial behaviour, going so far as hiring renowned landscape designer Mary Reynolds to create a plan for the prime waterside space.

When Galway City Council secured the funding from Failte Ireland’s Urban Animation Capital Investment Scheme, they enthusiastically engaged with the landscape consultants, who held meetings to gauge ideas for the park, with over 80 attending one meeting at the Galway Rowing Club which will be at the centre of the project.

The Woodquay Residents Association told LUC landscape architects that removing the railings and replacing them with seating and hedging would remove the ability to steward the park from noisy revellers throughout the night. The park’s gate is closed by residents from midnight to deter visitors.

However, the plan now submitted for planning has opened up the space by removing the railings to create an open plaza rather than a closed garden.

While acknowledging the hard work of residents in coming up with an initial plan, the planners state it was necessary to modify the Mary Reynolds design to ensure “the deliverability of the project”.

“Changes to her design were necessary to support future maintenance regimes, ensure alignment with the relevant planning policy and standards, accommodate the All-Ireland Pollinators Plan, incorporate further sustainable drainage systems measures, and to assess and manage the impact on existing trees and habitats.

“The boundary of the park will be defined by hedge planting, requiring the removal of the existing railing which is in poor condition.”

The application states that as a result of “the deep and active engagement of residents to improve their community and a desire to ensure their continued satisfaction and engagement”, the project has undergone two stages of consultation before being lodged.

A spokesperson for the residents group said the space “ceases to be a park and is now a plaza”.

“This may cause noise and crowds to gather late night when the development is completed. Many of the residents’ concerns have been dealt with in redesign, but the loss of railings changes completely the overall layout,” she stated.

Pictured: The redeveloped park plan has gone to An Bord Pleanála for approval.