Projects / 2024
Park Bench Improvements
For many years, the concrete benches throughout the Park have provided places for visitors to rest, meet friends and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. While structurally sound, many had become weathered with age and were in need of improvement.
In 2024, Dunmore East Tidy Towns secured funding from Waterford City & County Council to restore the remaining concrete benches, ensuring they could continue to serve the community for many years to come. Rather than replacing the benches, new timber seating was carefully fitted to the existing concrete bases, preserving a familiar feature of the Park while greatly improving its comfort and appearance.
A Generous Contribution
One of the most inspiring aspects of the project was the generosity shown by members of the local Amish-Mennonite community. Using their woodworking skills, they manufactured and fitted the new timber seating, asking only that the cost of the timber be covered. Their time, craftsmanship and labour were given freely as a contribution to the wider community.
It was a generous gesture that reflects the strong community spirit which continues to shape Dunmore East.
Working Together
This project brought together different groups, each making an important contribution:
- Dunmore East Tidy Towns, who secured the funding.
- Waterford City & County Council, whose support made the project possible.
- The local Amish-Mennonite community, who generously donated their craftsmanship and labour.
Together, they transformed a simple improvement project into a wonderful example of community collaboration.
Today, the restored benches provide comfortable places for anyone to pause, relax and enjoy the Park. While they may seem like a small improvement, they represent something much bigger: a community coming together to care for a shared public space. It is another reminder that the Park, like the Woods, continues to thrive through the generosity, skills and goodwill of local people.