New investment in outdoor recreation is set to reshape how children experience public spaces, as gov.ie confirms €200,000 in funding for two nature-based play projects in Clare and Limerick. Announced by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality on International Day of Play, the move highlights a growing policy focus across gov.ie on inclusive, accessible and environmentally rich spaces that support children’s development through free play and outdoor learning.
The funding will support two pilot schemes, each receiving €100,000, with Clare County Council developing a nature-based play and learning space in Ennis and Limerick City & County Council creating a natural play area and outdoor education hub in Ballinacurra. The projects were designed in response to national research showing the benefits of outdoor play for physical activity, social interaction, resilience and early learning.
How the gov.ie funding will be used
The pilot initiative is being financed under the National Development Plan and was shaped by the 2024 national review on play and recreation for children and adolescents. Importantly, proposals had to show meaningful consultation with children and meet accessibility standards for all users, including children with disabilities.
- Clare: John O’Sullivan Park, Lees Road, Ennis will receive a high-quality public play and learning space.
- Limerick: Baggot Estate Nature Park, Ballinacurra will add a natural play area, outdoor learning hub and Forest School.
Applications were assessed by a panel including officials from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, reflecting the kind of cross-department coordination often seen across gov.ie, Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and wider public service planning.
What children can expect in the new spaces
Both projects move beyond standard playground design. Instead of relying mainly on metal structures, the plans focus on natural features that encourage imaginative movement and sensory exploration.
Planned elements include:
- earthen mounds and integrated slides
- timber bridges and balancing logs
- natural tunnels and stepping rounds
- climbing structures and sand play zones
- wildflower planting, tree clusters and biodiversity habitats
- outdoor seating circles for storytelling and group learning
This approach aligns with wider public policy trends also seen across bodies such as the Health Service Executive (HSE), Tusla, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local authority planning, where wellbeing, inclusion and community use increasingly overlap.
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Why this matters for families and communities
The significance of this gov.ie announcement goes beyond two local projects. It signals a test case for how future public spaces may be designed: child-friendly, safe, low-maintenance and rooted in nature. For urban and suburban communities with limited access to green space, these environments can expand opportunities for play, informal education and local connection.
In Clare, the Ennis project will combine active play with biodiversity learning. In Limerick, the Ballinacurra plan adds a Forest School model, blending recreation with structured outdoor education. That creates value not only for children and schools, but also for community groups and families.
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Part of a broader government landscape
While this is a focused funding round, it sits within a broader ecosystem of Irish public bodies and services, from the Revenue Commissioners and Department of the Taoiseach to Education, Health, Social Protection, Justice, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and agencies like HIQA, the Citizens Information Board and Sport Ireland. On gov.ie, these announcements help show how local infrastructure, social inclusion and children’s rights intersect in practical ways.
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What comes next
With nine local authority applications assessed and only two selected, the gov.ie pilot will likely be watched closely by councils, planners and families alike. If the Clare and Limerick sites deliver the expected benefits, they could help shape future investment in nature-based play across Ireland.
The clearest takeaway from this gov.ie funding announcement is that outdoor play is no longer being treated as an optional extra. It is increasingly seen as essential community infrastructure that supports children’s health, confidence, inclusion and everyday connection with nature.
