WELCOME PUBLIC REALM STUDY AREA WHAT IS PUBLIC REALM? Welcome to the Ballina Town Public Realm public consultation event. Mayo Council is in the process of producing a Public Realm Strategy for Ballina Town. The purpose of the strategy is to further enhance Ballina as a great place to live, work and visit. Public Realm is the space between buildings - the streets, laneways, the waterfront, civic and open spaces that are accessible to the public and make up our towns, and also the building frontages that define these spaces. An attractive, high quality public realm in Ballina can have a positive impact on the town s competitiveness with other destinations, both for tourism and investment. It is an arena for business, for gathering, for recreation and for celebration. It is where people can come together to participate in public activities; from the Salmon Festival to farmers markets and parades. This intent of this Strategy is to provide a coherent vision for Ballina town and its public realm by engaging with its residents, business operators and visitors to the town and asking questions including: + How can we improve the streets and spaces?; + How can we integrate the river with the town centre?; + How can we enhance and better connect cycling and walking facilities within and around the town?; and + How can we create an enhanced town that is a better place for residents and business operators whilst encouraging visitors to stay longer? WHY ARE WE HERE TODAY? The project team, Brady Shipman Martin, commissioned by Mayo Council, would like to hear your views on what the public realm strategy should consider to enhance and improve Ballina town centre. To date the project team have been undertaking an information gathering process to inform the Strategy. To inform us further, we would like to hear your views and understand your aspirations for Ballina and its future as a great place to live, work and visit. HAVE YOUR SAY PROJECT TEAM: Ballina Public Realm We would like to hear your thoughts. The project team are handing out feedback questionnaires. You are welcome to complete the form today or alternatively, you can: Complete an online feedback form at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6w9sb35 Print the form online at: www.mayococo.ie/heritage Or, complete a written feedback form and - Post / leave it in the box provided at Ballina Civic Offices, Arran Place, Ballina - Scan or photo your form and email it to ballinaprp2018@mayococo.ie
BALLINA TODAY EVOLUTION OF BALLINA EXISTING ASSETS OF BALLINA TOWN Ballina is a traditional market town, a service town and a destination for much of the North Mayo region. The town serves a wider settlement that includes residential areas, employment, education, leisure, sporting, amenity and community facilities. Sligo BALLINA Sligo Castlebar Vibrant festival culture Cycling and walking trails River Moy Belleek Castle Active market town Ballina Quay Ballina circa 1841 Roscommon Westport The Salmon Festival Galway Ballina is distinctive for its location on the mouth of the River Moy. The town is notable for its compact urban form and its impressive built heritage of civic, institutional and commercial buildings. The historic layout of the town is substantially intact, and to its credit, has managed to retain much of its retail and commercial uses within its urban core. As the northernmost settlement on the River Moy, Ballina is a well placed nodal point and a destination for those travelling within the North Mayo region. Its location affords locals and visitors to Ballina convenient access to the Wild Atlantic Way, Belleek Castle and Woods, the Ox Mountains, Nephin Beg, Lough Conn, Ballycroy National Park, and the North Atlantic Coast at Killala Bay. King Street, Ballina circa 1913 Rich heritage GROWTH OF BALLINA TOWN AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY With its origins dating to 1427 at the site former Augustinian Abbey, the modern Ballina began to emerge in the 1700 s. The town expanded across both sides of the River Moy with the construction of the Upper and Lower Bridges and the Military Barracks in the latter part of the C18th. Since then, Ballina town has witnessed significant development and urban population growth which today is over 10,000. Enhance streetscapes The Public Realm Plan for Ballina will optimise and enhance the town centre for the local population and workforce, while also reinforcing its appeal and as a destination for tourism and for establishing new businesses. Activate vacant buildings Prioritise pedestrian spaces Revitalise heritage assets including the Military Barracks Ballina in 1838 Ballina in 1890 Ballina today Connect streets and laneways Reduce car dominance Activate weak frontages
PUBLIC REALM OPPORTUNITIES Building upon Ballina s strengths and assets, a range of public realm improvement opportunities, complementing the existing context, can be summarised under the following headings: STREETS & TRAFFIC Completed/ongoing regeneration projects Potential for streetscape improvement (short term) Potential for streetscape improvement (long term) Improved pedestrian facilities WATERFRONT / RIVER AMENITY Potential for riverfront improvement (short term) Potential for riverfront improvement (long term) CONNECTORS / LANEWAYS Existing quality laneways Potential for improvement (short term) Potential for new pedestrian links (long term) TOWN SPACES Existing public space Potential for new public space Potential for future public space expansion GATEWAYS AND ARRIVALS Gateway improvement potential Pedestrian gateway improvement potential EVENTS & FESTIVALS Potential location for public events, activities OPPORTUNITY SITES Opportunity development sites Opportunity town park site SIGNAGE / PUBLIC ART STRATEGY Important wayfinding location Opportunity to relocate tourist information office PARKING STRATEGY Key large carparks within town centre Potential for additional surface/underground parking STRATEGIC CONNECTIONS Strategic connections.
CREATING A VISION FOR BALLINA In creating a vision for a successful public realm in Ballina, the following aspirations are being considered by the project team, including: PEOPLE S TOWN + Create a better and safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists with improved facilities + Reduce traffic volume and speeds + Reduce unnecessary street clutter + Rationalise on-street parking and improve ease of access to large carparks ATTRACTIVE & WELCOMING + Define and celebrate entrance points of the town + Enhance the public realm through distinctive materials, planting, street furniture and lighting + Ensure that all aspects of the visitor experience and unique identity of Ballina are considered WITH UNIQUE CHARACTER + Protect and enhance the town s historic and natural features + Conserve the fabric and enhance the setting of historic buildings and monuments + Enhance the natural and built setting of the river Moy VIBRANT & ANIMATED + Maintain and enhance a public realm that encourages year-round use, day and night activity + Maximise the role and quality of tourism assets in the town + Improve and create flexible public spaces CONNECTED + Improve connectivity between streets, spaces, laneways, the riverfront and green spaces + Reinforce traditional streetscapes of the town centre + Enhance laneways so as to encourage people to use them more and create opportunity for new businesses + Provide enhanced cycling facilities and connections + Reconnect the town centre with the river. Ballina town, its friendly people, unique character, history and culture and activity will be enhanced through an improved high quality public realm. This will optimise and improve the town centre for people living and working in Ballina, while also reinforcing its appeal, variety of offerings and the town as a destination for tourism and new businesses.
PRECEDENT EXAMPLES STREETS AND TRAFFIC WATERFRONT / RIVER AMENITY THE NEXT STEPS CONNECTORS / LANEWAYS TOWN SPACES GATEWAYS AND ARRIVALS WE ARE HERE: 1: Hear your thoughts and views to inform the emerging vision for Ballina 2: Preliminary identification of opportunity sites 3: Project team, in close liaison with Mayo Council, will develop initial public realm proposals 4: Production of Preliminary Public Realm Strategy EVENTS AND FESTIVALS OPPORTUNITY SITES SIGNAGE / PUBLIC ART STRATEGY PARKING STRATEGY 5: Consultation on the Preliminary Public Realm Strategy STRATEGIC CONNECTIONS 6: Production of Final Public Realm Strategy. THANK YOU FOR COMING.