Mullingar is finally to have its own skatepark as work got underway at the project in the Town Park last week. Estimated to cost in excess of €100,000, the new skatepark will be a welcome addition for the youth of the town, who have been campaigning for many years to have such a facility in place.
There were difficulties with the initial plan for the skatepark but there has been a compromise and it will now be constructed adjacent to the pond in the town park. Approximately 450 metres in size, it will be a safe place for skateboard users with a galvanised steel railing around the perimeter.
Westmeath County Council will fund the project with money generated from paid parking, while there was also finance set aside from sports capital funding.
The development of such a facility in Mullingar has been a long time in gestation. Initially, there were several sites proposed for the new Mullingar skatepark, including the Ballymahon Road, in the green area between the canal and the road, opposite the old Horizon site; the middle of the Fair Green; the town park; Bleach Yard Road, between the railway and the new car park behind the new council offices at the bottom of Jail Hill; and on the new Robinstown Link Road, beside the D’Alton Park creche.
Westmeath County Council produced drawings of all five locations, and a series of pictures of the Tullamore skate park, which is of similar design to what is planned for Mullingar. These were put on on display in the Atrium of the County Buildings and were also available on the local authority’s website.
Last year a grant of €58,000 was allocated for the project in Mullingar, through funding provided by the Department of Sport for similar projects around the country. It was the maximum amount the Mullingar project could have received for the project.
Initially there were fears that the development of a skatepark in the Mullingar Town Park could lead to anti-social behaviour issues. Berty Dunne, owner of the nearby Annebrook House Hotel, did have concerns, but now that the project is up and running he’s fully supportive of the skatepark and hopes it will be a positive development for the youth of the town.
“I wish them well with the project and hope the Council will maintain it to the same standard as the rest of the Town Park. Security is an important issue,” he said.
The new development will come with CCTV.
Cllr Aidan Davitt is also hoping the new skatepark will be a positive development.
“I welcome any development that will benefit the youth of the town and have a positive influence. Skateparks have proven hugely popular in towns like Tullamore and there’s no reason why it can’t be the same in Mullingar,” he said.
