Umeras Community Development CLG wish to commission a competent and independent Consultant/Consultancy team to develop a Design Study for Umeras Peatland Park and propose a layout for the park infrastructure, including an international standard sculpture park, which will fulfil outline planning permission requirements. 

The development and production of the Design Study covers the following aspects:

1. Prepare Outline Designs of Infrastructure for the Peatlands Park

The peatlands park is modelled on Lough Boora in Offaly and the initial concept proposes the following infrastructure: entrance, car-park, exhibition area/visitor centre in repurposed industrial shed on site, toilets, signage and information boards, viewing platform/café, foot/cycle paths around the site, bird hides, repurposed train station and potential for a bog train. 

Consultation

Furthermore, an important element of developing the Design Plan is the facilitation of consultation meetings with groups identified by Umeras Community Development CLG. 

2. Public Road Access Study

It is proposed that access to the peatlands park is at the current Bord na Mona entrance from the public road. It is anticipated that visitors can access the peatlands park from the Blueway at McCartney’s Bridge/Ballykelly Locks along the public road and an assessment of the safety of the road for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians from the Blueway to the entrance to the peatlands park would be required along with proposed additional works to increase safety. 

4.Outline Design & Process for Developing a Sculpture Park

It is proposed that Umeras Peatlands Park develops a sculpture park of the highest artistic merits to international standards which would be of interest to the premium tourists visiting the Kildare Tourism Hub, the Blueway and Ballykelly Mills Distillery.