Discover Duhallow Issue 60

LEADER In The Community Spotlight on Rockchapel Community Playground

By STEPHANIE MOYNIHAN

With the aid of LEADER funding, the community of Rockchapel was able to develop a playground in its village for children up to the age of 12. The provision of a safe and secure recreation area for children in the village envisioned the enhancement and encouragement of the ongoing stability of the community. Geographically, Rockchapel is a remote isolated village which has suffered in recent times particularly with the loss of its post office. Prior to the development of the playground, the offering for children in Rockchapel was quite limited, and the proposed project converted an area that is situated in the centre of the village into a valuable resource for families and visitors to the area. The community acknowledged that in recent times, much publicity has been given to childhood health promotion, and as part of this, an emphasis has been placed on outdoor play. It was further acknowledged that a locally accessible playground will support the optimal social and physical development of local children.

Furthermore, their parents will benefit through the provision of a community focal point. This project was deeply embedded with the notion that it was essential to building a support network for all, and young parents and lone parents in particular will find this especially beneficial.