Kilbarry Nature Park has been officially opened by Michael D Higgins, President of Ireland.

This exciting new nature park is located just south of Waterford city on the former Kilbarry landfill site.

With an ecological focus, the park will provide an aesthetically pleasing and stimulating environment for the people of Waterford city. The park includes walking routes, play areas, exercise space, nature trails, integrated wetlands, wildflower meadows and wildlife areas. It also boasts impressive views of the city and surrounding countryside.

Uniquely the park has been developed at the former Kilbarry landfill site, an area of approximately 20 hectares, which closed in August 2005. Since its closure a remediation and after care plan was employed. This involved sealing off waste from the surrounding environment by installing a plastic layer and placing a cap of subsoil on top of the landfill. A gas extraction system was put in place to allow the methane to be burned off at a flare adjacent to the site.

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Early in 2010 works were completed on the surface water management system, new entrance, car park and associated bridges to enable work to begin on the park itself.

The design team for the project included Cost Managers Healy Kelly Turner & Townsend, Architects Mitchell & Associates, Crestwood Environmental Ltd, ARUP and the works were completed by contractors Grangemore Landscapes Ltd.

Greta Nagle, Associate Director and Manager of Healy Kelly Turner & Townsend’s Waterford office commented: "We are delighted to have been involved in the development of Kilbarry Nature Park. It is an exciting public space and a fantastic amenity for local community."

(CD/GK)