Limerick City and County Council took home the award for Public Space and Planning at the 2024 KPMG Property Industry Excellence Awards last night in Dublin.
The transformation of a brown site on the Castletroy Greenway into a sustainable play space was recognised for its innovation and commitment to sustainability.
The project was delivered through Go Green Routes Horizon 2020, funded by the European Union with a focus on enhancing the physical and well-being of urban residents.
The Awards, in association with the Irish Independent, celebrate the best in leadership, innovation and sustainability in the Irish property sector.
Carmel Lynch, Senior Executive Engineer, Environment and Climate Action at LCCC, expressed delight at the win, saying:
"We are delighted to receive this award in recognition of the Go Green Routes Horizon 2020 project which transformed the brown site along the Castletroy Urban Greenway into a sustainable play space using nature based solutions. We would particularly like to thank and acknowledge our national and international partners for their collaboration on the project and to recognise the role played by the community in the co-creation aspect of the project."
About the Winning Project
GoGreenRoutes (2020-2024) is a €10.5 million international project funded by the European Union. The focus of the project is to enhance the physical and mental well-being of urban residents by increasing their connection to nature.
Limerick City and County Council chose the Castletroy Greenway as a brown site blank canvas to deliver a sustainable, inclusive, co-created design for both the community and nature.
The landscape has been reshaped to create mounds covered in wildflowers and swales at low points and along paths.
The project provided the opportunity to create linkages between fragmented (sub)urban greenspaces and implement nature-based solutions that focus on contributing to green infrastructure in keeping with the principles of European Green Infrastructure Strategy.
With a strong focus on natural play, the area has been remodelled to create a space of interest for young and old.
Limerick City and County Council's win highlights its role as a leader in sustainable urban planning and public space development.
