THE PEOPLES PARK BEFORE THE MAJOR CHANGES [PHOTOGRAPHED AUGUST 2017]

Back in 2017, the People's Park in Waterford was a well-established and popular public space with a range of amenities. The park featured a Victorian-era bandstand, a cycle and running track, children's playgrounds for different age groups, and a skate park. A key feature was the "In-Visible" fountain, a contemporary sculpture consisting of a large acrylic sphere with water flowing over it, which had been installed in the early 2000s. The park was also home to the historic Carlisle Bridge, a pedestrian iron bridge that connected the park to the grounds of Waterford Courthouse. The former park-keeper's house had been converted into the popular Park Lodge café.

Since then, the park has undergone significant refurbishment and upgrades, transforming some of its key features. The "In-Visible" fountain, which had fallen into disrepair, was replaced by a new, more modern fountain. The new water feature, unveiled in 2024, consists of a stainless steel spray ring with numerous water jets and a colour-changing lighting display. This new installation retained the original shape and limestone capping of the previous fountain's basin.

The historic Carlisle Bridge, dating back to 1857, has also been completely restored. The restoration project involved the replacement of corroded wrought iron work and a full back-to-bare-metal refurbishment. The bridge now stands as a beautifully preserved historical link between the park and the courthouse.

In addition to these major changes, there have been other improvements to the park. For instance, a contactless water fountain has been installed, encouraging the use of reusable bottles and supporting sustainability goals. These changes have further enhanced the park's appeal, combining its historical character with new, modern amenities for the community to enjoy.