Forest park reopens in Carlow after major upgrade

OAK Park’s newly renovated forest park was officially relaunched last week, with Carlow Co Council executive engineer Ciaran Brennan describing the completed project as “a brilliant asset for Carlow town”.

The new Island Loop walk and viewing deck, as well as the playground were unveiled and opened to the public.

Mr Brennan, who oversaw the upgrade programme, said the forest park, which sits alongside Hanover Park and the Town Park in Graiguecullen as one of the town’s three main green spaces, offers something unique to residents.

“It’s a fabulous natural spot, a forest spot with walks and nature and biodiversity, all really close to the town,” he said. “You don’t have to go too far out to the countryside to get all that.” 

The park has been in existence for around 20 years, but a rolling three-year upgrade programme transformed the facility, culminating this year in the resurfacing of the Sally Island Trail ‒ the fourth and final trail to be upgraded. The other trails, the Butlers Wood Loop, the Lake Path and the Fox Covert Track, were each upgraded in previous phases.

“The fourth and last trail was upgraded this year,” Mr Brennan confirmed. “They’re all fully accessible now with the new surface finish.” 

Among the new additions to the park are a natural play area, a playground upgrade, a mini basketball court, upgraded toilet facilities and an upgraded car park, as well as the new scenic viewing area overlooking the lake.

“The view looks out across the lake and you can see the Teagasc building, the historic Bruen house on the far side of the lake and then you have all the wildlife, as well as the swans and the ducks in the lake. So it’s a very peaceful setting,” said Mr Brennan.

A coffee trailer has also been added to the facility, which, he said, helps the park “tick all the boxes” for visitors. The result has been a dramatic rise in footfall; visitor numbers, he said, had “gone through the roof”.

With five or six kilometres of looped walks suitable for walking, running and cycling, Mr Brennan was keen to emphasise the park’s year-round appeal and its fitness credentials. The facility also caters for organised group visits, including school tours, disability groups and guided tours, with a height restriction barrier at the car park entrance that can be opened by appointment for minibuses.

“We get a lot of minibuses coming in by appointment, including people with disabilities,” he said. “So we’ve got a lot of guided tours, disability groups, school tours ‒ any kind of a group that goes there to spend half a day, you name it.” 

The upgrade was funded through a combination of council funding and external funding streams.

Mr Brennan, who jokingly said he would “turn Carlow town into a garden” if he had his way, described the philosophy behind the park as one rooted in connecting people with nature.

“Natural play is kind of what the park is really about, even from just walking, running, cycling to using the play area and just playing with trees, branches, plants,” he said. “That kind of natural play really inspires people.”