Galway City Council has hailed An Coimisiún Pleanála's decision to grant planning consent for the Kingston Park and Millers Lane Public Parks and Public Urban Realm project, a major step towards delivering new neighbourhood parks for Knocknacarra, Rahoon and the wider city. The approval coincides with a €7.5 million allocation announced by Minister James Browne through the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund to begin delivery via the An Tús Kingston Project, enabling phase one of the New Kingston Public Park.

The scheme will provide modern sports pitches and facilities, new community buildings, expanded public open spaces, climate resilience measures, safe routes to schools, event areas, café amenities, better walking and cycling links, biodiversity improvements, and a variety of recreational features aimed at active, healthy living.

Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Helen Ogbu said: "I welcome the decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála to grant approval for Galway's new transformative Neighbourhood Parks at Kingston Park and Millers Lane, Rahoon. This exciting project now has the green light to proceed, delivering state-of-the-art sports facilities for hockey, soccer, rugby, handball, rounders, boules cricket as well as numerous facilities and amenities for children and young people."

Leonard Cleary, Chief Executive, Galway City Council said: "The Kingston Park and Millers Lane project reflects Galway City Council's commitment to delivering accessible, inclusive and sustainable public spaces. The grant of planning permission represents a major achievement for Galway City Council and the wider project team. Thank you to the Elected Members for their support getting this project to this important milestone, and to every individual who engaged with the public consultations, shared feedback, drummed up support and came with us every step of the way. With planning approval now secured, and a significant initial investment of €7.5 million by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage this week, the project moves a step closer to delivery, bringing the vision for Kingston Park and Millers Lane to life and creating a valuable community asset that will benefit current and future generations."

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Planned multi-purpose buildings will include team changing areas, sensory rooms, community kitchenettes, publicly accessible toilets and showers, a large sports hall, meeting and activity spaces, weather-sheltered viewing terraces, a commentary booth, and a café with a covered external plaza and service points for catering vehicles and events.

The buildings are designed to meet high environmental performance under the international LEED standard, incorporating solar panels, rainwater harvesting, passive ventilation, EV car and bicycle charging points, and self-charging public lighting.

Across the parks, proposals feature a main public plaza, an outdoor classroom amphitheatre, a tree-lined promenade, children's play zones, walking and cycling routes, multi-use games courts, a calisthenics area, and two new car parks. Measures include Safe Routes to School for St. John the Apostle National School, bus spaces, family areas, age-friendly and accessible spaces, as well as extensive bicycle parking for standard and cargo bikes with secure storage.

Landscape works will introduce rain gardens, pollinator-friendly meadows, native hedgerows, naturalised woodland (including indigenous species), and colourful planting with shrubs, perennials and seasonal bulbs to enhance biodiversity and resilience.

The project has been advanced by a multidisciplinary team comprising Galway City Council, MKO, DRLA, Punch Consulting Engineers, Quinn Architects, Moloney Fox, TC Estimating, Meehan Greene, Jensen Hughes and Hayden Turfcare, following three stages of consultation with local community representatives, residents, sports organisations, schools, businesses, state agencies, Galway City Council departments and Elected Members.

Patrick Greene, Director of Services, Galway City Council acknowledged the support of all those involved: "A huge amount of work has gone into getting the Kingston and Millers Lane project to this stage and we look forward to the next stages and support to continue and realise the projects on the ground. Thank you to Stephen Walsh, our Senior Executive Parks Superintendent, Senior Engineer Sharon Connolly, all the staff who assisted within Galway City Council for leading out and delivering the project with our partners at MKO Consulting, and the wider project team including Dermot Ryan Landscape Architecture, Quinn Architects, PUNCH Consulting Engineers, TC Estimating QS, Maloney Fox Consulting M&E Engineers, Meehan Greene, Jensen Hughes and Hayden Turfcare. Thank you to the public and Elected Members for your support to date, and we welcome further engagement with you as this project progresses and becomes a reality."

This is the first—and most advanced—of three major initiatives for Galway. The Council plans to bring the South Park and Renmore Neighbourhood Masterplans forward for planning approval, expanding public realm, amenity and sports infrastructure and significantly advancing a modern, sustainable future for the city.

Further details are available at kingstonparkmillerslane.com/