Tramore Town Park

Proposed Tramore Town Park

 Waterford County Council and Tramore Town Council propose developing a new people’s park for the town of Tramore, on lands between Lower Branch Road and The Promenade. The Councils views the park as more than a public space or series of public spaces, we see the park as a generator, an opportunity to bring people together and create something greater than the sum of its parts. Bearing this in mind we have broken the project into linked constituent parts or spaces and will seek to match each part or space loosely with a particular local group. It is this linking of spaces, groups and people that is the projects strength. Encouraging local people to get involved at an early stage, encourages ownership, a people's park owned and operated by the people. The proposal seeks to utilise, support and enhance the positive elements of the site and the community, a holistic strategy which could eventually form the nucleus of new town plan.

  
Phase One; the “Crooked Path” and the old railway embankment will be developed in association with Tramore Tidy Towns and will form the park entrance. The Tidy Towns group are very active and have carried out numerous successful landscaping projects in recent years. Combining the specialist local knowledge, expertise and proven ability of this community group with the local authorities’ resources reflects well the collaborative aspirations of the project.

The park is set on lands surrounding the existing boating lake and the design concept draws heavily on these surroundings. As water, the bay and the strand feature greatly in Tramore’s identity, these elements inform and feature in the Town Park design. We see the park as an integral part of this amenity area, a precursor to the promenade, the strand and the magnificent bay. Bearing this in mind, Phase One draws the visitor into the park from Lower Branch Road the traditional entrance to the town, this area forms a viewing platform offering glimpses of the park, the lake and beyond. The park entrance is marked by the “Iris” a bronze by artist Rory Breslin, commissioned by Waterford County Council.


A stepped water feature or rill, leads the visitor down a flight of stone steps to the old railway embankment. The memory of which is strengthened with planting and paving, forming a pleasant linear walk or allee. The use of sensory planting and gently sloping paths cut into the embankments ensures the park is accessible to all.  Amongst the groves and embankments are spaces to sit, to observe, to picnic.

 Throughout the park existing topography and planting will where possible, be utilised and strengthened with appropriate native species.