Limerick City and County Council received the Public Space and Planning Award at the 2024 KPMG Property Industry Excellence Awards in Dublin. The council was recognised for transforming a brownfield site on the Castletroy Greenway into a sustainable play space, showcasing innovation and a commitment to sustainability.

A Collaborative Effort: Go Green Routes Horizon 2020
The European Union-funded Go Green Routes Horizon 2020 project partnered with the municipality in this achievement, a project focusing on six co-creative implementation processes designed to enhance the physical and mental well-being of urban residents. Insights from this collaboration were featured in a podcast episode earlier this year.

The Awards, presented in association with the Irish Independent, celebrate excellence in leadership, innovation, and sustainability in the Irish property sector.

Carmel Lynch, Senior Executive Engineer, Environment and Climate Action at LCCC, expressed delight at the win, saying:

"We are delighted to receive this award in recognition of the Go Green Routes Horizon 2020 project which transformed the brown site along the Castletroy Urban Greenway into a sustainable play space using nature based solutions. We would particularly like to thank and acknowledge our national and international partners for their collaboration on the project and to recognise the role played by the community in the co-creation aspect of the project." 

About the Winning Project
Go Green Routes (2020-2024) is a €10.5 million international project funded by the European Union, aiming to improve urban residents' physical and mental well-being by fostering connections to nature.

For this initiative, Limerick City and County Council selected the Castletroy Greenway as a brownfield site to design a sustainable, inclusive space benefiting both the community and the environment. The landscape now features:

• Wildflower-covered mounds and swales for natural drainage.
• Connections between fragmented suburban greenspaces.
• Nature-based solutions aligned with the European Green Infrastructure Strategy.

The area prioritises natural play, creating a space enjoyable for all ages. Its success in encouraging play and nature connection was celebrated with a pop-up play event hosted by A Playful City. On-site monitoring efforts continue, tracking biodiversity, air quality, and other environmental indicators, with data available on the GGR Data Hub.

This achievement underscores Limerick City and County Council's leadership in sustainable urban planning and public space development. The project's success owes much to the dedication of local task forces and experts on the ground, including Dr. Sarah O’Malley, and collaborations with two nearby schools.

Want to Learn More?
Discover the collaborative processes behind the Greenway's transformation in this detailed report.

Explore this co-creation poster about the work in Limerick.