Work on Lee Valley Park Commences - Major Tourism Boost for Tralee

Work is due to commence later this week on the ambitious Tralee Lee Valley Project, following the signing of the Stage 1 Contract on Monday (Sept 20) between Tralee Town Council and Griffin Brothers Contractors Castleisland. The €4.2m project has been a long term goal of Tralee Town Council and a key element of Fáilte Ireland’s activity and eco tourism strategy. The Department of Tourism, Culture & Sports is providing €3m from its tourism product development budget for the project through Fáilte Ireland with Tralee Town Council providing the balance. 

Speaking at the signing, the Mayor of Tralee Cllr. AJ Spring, thanked the Government and Fáilte Ireland for its support, which he said, would provide a major boost for the town. “The Council has worked closely with Fáilte Ireland South West, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust UK,  South West Fisheries Board, IT Tralee, Holiday Tralee and other local voluntary and statutory bodies to bring the project to fruition.”

Tralee Town Manager, Michael McMahon said the project had been a long term goal of the Council and would exploit the new and growing nature and eco tourism market. “The provision of a new rail station within the park will assist the Tralee Steam Railway and Blennerville Windmill projects”.   

The present Stage 1 Contract with Griffin Brothers involves the construction of the access road, car park, activity lake and 2.2km of walks and cycleways in both the activity and nature zones. The contract is valued at €1.2m.    The contract  for the new Visitor Centre Building and Viewing Tower will go to tender shortly.

The park is designed by Scott Wilson landscape architects, Belfast with local consultants Malachy Walsh & Partners, Civil & Services Engineers, based in Blennerville and Kane Crowe Kavanagh, Quantity Surveyors, Tralee.

Tralee Town Council has invested heavily in tourism infrastructure, particularly in all-weather visitor attractions, since the 1990s and tourism now supports 500+ jobs in the town. The new €4.2 million project will add significantly to the broad range appeal that Tralee has to offer domestic and overseas visitors. It is expected to attract 70,000 per year to the Kerry capital and is due to be in operation for the 2011 tourist season.

Pictures from the Contract Signing: