Kerdiffstown Landfill Public Art commission

Tender description

Kerdiffstown Landfill is a former sand and gravel quarry which has been progressively backfilled with wastes since the 1950s. In 2010, the former operator of the landfill vacated the site and in 2011, there was a major fire on the site in 2011, required the intervention of a number of site agencies, including Kildare County Council and the EPA. It was transferred to Kildare County Council in 2015. The facility at Kerdiffstown is now in the early stages of remediation which will put in place measures to prevent and limit pollution from the waste. In May 2018 planning permission was obtained from An Bord Pleanála for the remediation of the landfill and the development of the site as a public amenity. ‘Kerdiffstown Park’, will have 2 no. full size, all-weather pitches and 3 no. 5-a-side pitches. The pitches will be available for use for rugby, GAA and soccer. A new playground and car parking areas will also be provided. The remainder of the 75 acre site will be grassland with walkways throughout. Meadow grasses and wildflowers will be allowed to grow in specified areas to encourage pollinators and wetland areas will be developed as part of the management of surface water on the site. It is intended to commission a permanent public art feature for Kerdiffstown Park to mark this significant development for the county. While the theme(s) of the artwork is open to artistic interpretation, the proposed art work may take inspiration from or have a connection to the site, for example the history or features of the locality, the surrounding natural environment, the local fauna (e.g. the swallows which local residents have an affinity to), the site’s use as a landfill, the remediation etc.