Residents of and visitors to Limerick City Centre will be able to experience something new this June Bank Holiday weekend, as three locations across the city will become pedestrianised over the next three days
A mobile mini forest has arrived in Limerick to help create spaces for people to relax and hang out while experiencing that part of the city centre in a different way.
This is a small scale pilot project to show people what the future of Limerick City Centre could be like, and to get their feedback.
The aim is for people to come into the city centre enjoy our public realm while supporting local businesses.
From today (Saturday) until Monday, three different locations will be closed to vehicles as the mobile mini forest take over the concrete roads and footpaths, to bring a different element of city living right into the heart of the Limerick.
The locations are:
- Catherine Street (between Glentworth St and Cecil St)
- Sarsfield Bridge
- Honan’s Quay
The section of Catherine Street will be closed to traffic from 2pm this afternoon as the mini pop-up forest is put into place.
Sarsfield Bridge will only be accessible to pedestrians, runners, cyclists and scooterists on Sunday, allowing people to experience the bridge as a forest over water and the city from a different perspective.
While on Monday, Honan’s Quay (at the tunnel under Sarsfield Bridge) will be closed to traffic to allow the people of Limerick enjoy a riverside woodland.
Musicians and other street entertainment and activities are planned for these areas as the Council showcases what other ways a city can be used for its residents and visitors.
Mobile Forest
A total of 70 mobile planters have been built each with seating at the edge for up to four adults. Trees have been planted in the planters providing shade from the sun, while also helping to green the street scape.
The planters can be arranged in various layouts and locked into position.
The trees being used are all native to Ireland and include multi-stemmed silver birch, willow, cherry and ash.
Build
The tree planters have been designed and made in Limerick by local company Monarú based in the Watch House Cross Business Complex in Moyross.
The company which designs and produces custom-made furniture, won the tender to make the mobile tree planters.
A number of prototypes were made before the design was finalised.
A total of 70 planters have been made using external grade plywood, and are expected to last 20 years with proper maintenance.
Sustainability
At the heart of the project is sustainability. It is about creating a different type of experience in the city centre.
It is community-focused. The project helps to introduce more greenery into the city centre, provide an oasis of calm and relaxation and enjoyment of our urban streetscape, and providing additional seating to an area.
The planters are re-useable, while the trees that are currently in the planters will be replanted to other areas of Limerick as they continue to grow and they in turn will be replaced by new saplings every year.
Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Daniel Butler said: “During COVID, we talked about nature reclaiming our city streets, and we have always been talking about more trees and tree coverage in our city centre, so I came up with an idea about how we could come up with our own urban pop-up forest.”
“It’s an opportunity for us to use our city centre spaces in a more flexible and creative way, because cities have to start working harder and we have to start using our cities in a more creative way to make them work better for our citizens.”
“This project is just one small idea that we are presenting to show how Limerick city centre can be used differently.”
The mobile planters are available for community and other groups who are planning events.
The Place-Making Department can be contacted on 061 556000 for further information.