Walkies On By

e reckon it would be fair to say that the Greystones Dog Park proved to be something of a dog’s dinner when it opened last December.

So much so, the park was promptly shut.

Those who campaigned for over a decade to have such a facility in the town were quick to point out that not only was the park little more than a glorified pool of dirty water but, pointed out chairperson Bernie Stokes, the stones used were actually dangerous to dogs.

And so, it was back to the drawing board, Wicklow County Council informing us yesterday that the bigger, stronger, drier and hopefully safer Greystones Dog Park was on track to reopen in mid-June.

We’re still not sure what the fencing is all about though. There to hold the water back? And has that river beneath truly been capped? The proof is in the puddles.

Just what WCC, Sispar Limited and Glenveagh Properties have been doing over these past months behind locked gates reads…

• Improvements to the gradient along two sections of the perimeter path at the public park
• Modifications to the gradient of the main footpath from the public car park to the park
• Levelling and re seeding works in the dog park following the drainage works in March
(The levelling works are not those detailed previously; they are repairs following the drainage works and will slightly reduce the gradient)
• Topping up of the areas with loose gravel to cover exposed concrete/kerbs around manholes
• Repairs to divots/holes in the grassed areas and reseeding/removal of stones where necessary
• Repairs to playground equipment
• Inspection and repairs to the sunken sections of the decked surfaces
• Repairs to the stone ramps at the decked areas and filling in between the grass and edge of the decked areas
• Application of a contrasting surface to the concrete shelter
• Gluing/inserting a grid over the pebbled surface around the trees i.e. works to prevent loose gravel spilling out from the base of the trees on the paved surface
• Additional signage throughout the park/boardwalk and into the Marina Village – Bilingual where appropriate
• Additional seating within the park
• Modifications to the positioning of the some of the old granite from the Gap Bridge
• Extending the railings around the marina to the edge of the northern breakwater

That work is now largely completed, the extra few weeks being added to give the reseeding of the park a chance to take root. All going swell, Greystones’ dogs should be able to finally rock and rollick with confidence – and without mud – in mid-June.

And all going superswell, our magnificent mutts may even have a second park to frolic in soon, as Stokes and WCC are currently searching for another Greystones site.