People power delivers playground for trim

Work on Trim’s newly extended playground is progressing well and is on track for the official opening which will be marked with family fun day on Saturday 4th July.
What began as “moaning” about the unsuitable stone surface, resulted in the setting up of a dedicated playground committee which has put in a huge amount of work over the past two years to investigate all avenues to provide better playground facilities for local children.
Since the committee was set up in August 2013, it has looked at various site options to provide a brand new playground but found there were issues with all the locations and ultimately the existing site was found to be the preferred location.
The council approved an extension to the playground and all the equipment has been refurbished and brought up to standard.
New pieces have also been purchased and grass rubber matting is being put in place under all pieces of equipment of a certain height such as the climbing frames.
Trim Playground Development Committee Chairperson Joanne Neilson explained that there was nothing wrong with the equipment other than it was getting old and it has all been stripped back and re-varnished to look like new.
New features include a sensory wall, two new climbing frames, a slide and house for younger children and a slide that is integrated into a hill on the site.
Ms Neilson explained that while previously the playground really only catered for children aged five to nine, now it would have something for younger and
older children with equipment for ages three up to 12 years.
The original sandpit will be once again filled with sand and new picnic benches are being sponsored. New fencing will be erected right around the playground and there will be a grass surface throughout. The total cost of the works is €100,000.
Ms Neilson explained that the playground committee raised €20,000 last year and also got a government grant of €20,000.
The committee has pledged a further €15,000 to the council this year and is holding a monster raffle on the day of the opening.
The rest of the funding will be provided by Meath County Council.
“We are knocking door to door selling tickets and it is a much easier sell now that people can see what is going on.
“Now people are saying it’s a great job and they can’t wait for it to open rather than wondering what is going to happen with it,” said Ms Neilson.
She added that people had also remarked that they only realised how much they used the playground when it closed for the works.