BYC.J. MCGINLEY
AN estate with a turbulent past is looking to a brighter future. Glenwood Park in Letterkenny which was once synonymous with trouble and anti-social behaviour is undergoing a major facelift thanks to the efforts of its residents.
This week the 101 house estate was looking splendid in early summer sunshine, but that was not always the case. In the past feuding, drugs and alcohol misuse got the former 'Knocknashinna' estate into the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
However, as it moves into another generation the 21-year-old estate is now fast becoming the envy of council housing estates in the town. What was once disfigured by dumped cars, graffiti and bonfires has been transformed into a peaceful 'park' on the estate.
The area known locally as 'Fairy Rock' has undergone a radical overhaul and has been rejuvenated into a multipurpose recreational area with a basketball court. A small football pitch has been built and work has started on a children's playground. Two years ago all of the houses in the estate were painted.
New trees and shrubs have been planted and now the residents and the children have a focal point they can be proud of.
For over twenty years residents had been campaigning for such a facility. Now, thanks to the Residents Association and the town council the fruits of their labour are there for everyone to see. The re-development of the Fairy Rock field is just another example of the rejuvenation that is taking place at Glenwood Park.
Michael Duddy is Chairman of the Glenwood Park Residents' Association and has lived in the estate for 21 years.
"This is all very important as part of the rejuvenation of Glenwood Park. Yes, we've had problems in the past but things are not like that anymore. People are taking pride in the area and respect it more now," he said.
The view is shared by youth worker, Garry Glennnon.
"There has been a massive change here in a few years. Nobody is hiding away from the fact there has been problems in the past with anti-social behaviour, drugs and alcohol misuse but people now want a better life and they are making the difference themselves," he said.
"The re-development of the Fairy Rock is another step on the journey. It gives people in the area a secluded place to go an relax. They never had that before and it also breaks down barriers between people. Like any estate it can be difficult to go to somebody's door but here there is a meeting place for the community that they can be proud of,"
"In past years there was conflict between some people and the gardai but now we take the kids on summer trips away with them. This is all about fostering good community relations and breaking down barriers," Garry added.
Three years ago the residents' committee set about the task of rejuvenating the estate.
"We carried out a survey and asked people what they wanted done. We organised clean ups, got the houses painted and then moved onto this re-development of the Fairy Rock field. In the past few years over 200,000 euro has been spent here under Peace and Reconciliation Funding and the council funds and we're beginning to see the fruits of our efforts," Michael said.
"In the past the Fairy Rocks field was a dumping ground for old washing machines, masonry, furniture and a place where there was a vandalism and anti-social behaviour. Now we have a place where everyone can be proud of. The field was drained, landscaped and the multi purpose area built along with the walkway, basketball court, trees and shrubs and now we're starting work on a playground. It is getting into very good shape," he added.
Dorothy Black has also been a resident in Glenwood for over 21 years. She can now bring her grand-children to the 'new park'.
"This type of facility was a priority here for years but we were left waiting and waiting. Cars were dumped on the waste ground, there were bonfires and it attracted problems. Now, we have a place that we can all be proud of," she said.
"Facilities like this go a long way to improving the image of the estate," Dorothy added.
Anne Boyle, is another resident of over 21 years at Glenwood.
"We're delighted with the new recreational area. It is in the best interests of everyone that we keep the place looking well. There were problems in the past with anti-social behaviour and what not, but that came from outside the area. There were too many houses anyway. Now, we're making great progress and with this new facility we can all be proud of the estate again," she said.
"I used to hate having to walk through the Fairy Rock as it was full of debris and old cars. It is a right of way down to Beechwood Park and now we can all use it without any fear at all," she added.
Another resident of over 20 years standing is Bridget Gibbons.
"It is vital that we have facilities like this in Glenwood Park for the kids. It gives them somewhere to go and something to do," she said. Shirley Duddy, a mother of five who has lived in the estate since it first opened, agrees.
"It adds great value to the area to have a recreational facility like this in place. Everybody has so much pride in it," she said.
