AS CONSTRUCTION began this week on a new playground in Hospital, there was further good news for the community with the announcement of a grant worth €86,088 for the project.
It had been in the pipeline since the establishment of the Hospital Playground Committee in May 2011 and, with the necessary funds now in place, construction workers have been on site since Monday. The committee hopes that the playground will be completed within one month, citing a maximum six weeks for its construction.
Cindy Keyes, PRO and secretary of the Hospital Playground Committee, spoke of her delight at the beginning of work on the facility.
She said: “This is great news for the committee after putting in two long years of hard work. The work that went into getting this playground is unreal. It has been a long process but we finally got there and that feels amazing because after so long you think you’ll never get there.”
Ballyhoura Development has provided 75% of the funding for the project, with the Hospital Playground Committee raising the other 25%.
Ms Keyes thanked the local community for their continued support for the playground throughout the two-year process.
“It’s so hard for us to keep begging and begging people to donate for two years. For so long they weren’t seeing progress and they kept asking when it was going to start, so they’ll be delighted now to see it.”
One of the committee’s main fundraising drives for the playground has been the annual fun day, which is now into its third year. It will take place on Sunday July 28 at the secondary school on Knockainey Road in Hospital.
The committee, consisting of chairperson Carmel Costello, treasurers Bridget Keyes and Mary McCarthy, PRO/secretary Cindy Keyes, Ellen O’Connell, Becky Leahy, Thelma Ryan, Ann O’Connor and Mary Burke thanked everyone for their support and donations over the past two years and hope to see the support continued at the opening of the playground. Details and updates can be found on the committee’s Facebook page.
