Westmeath County Council has been successful in securing an 80 per cent grant of €25,000 from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for the Mullingar Wellness Activity Route project.
The Mullingar Wellness Activity Route comprises outdoor exercise equipment sited at various locations, starting in Mullingar Town Park and then at four other locations along the upgraded and well-travelled sections of the Royal Canal towpaths. The project offers flexibility and engaging exercise activities in a safe environment.
The upgraded Royal Canal is a particularly important resource for Mullingar with its towpaths already forming part of the nationally recognised Mullingar Cycle Hub, and also boasting a picturesque and serene section of the Westmeath Way walking route. The Wellness Activity Route will serve to increase the use of the canal for recreation activity.
With the establishment of Mullingar as a National Cycle Hub town, followed by the development of several projects supporting and advancing this status, the hugely successful Active Travel Mullingar Project is also taking full advantage of the newly upgraded canal towpaths, encouraging recreational walking as well as cycling in a safe, pleasant, and unobtrusive environment.
The Wellness Activity Centre in Mullingar Town Park provides an additional recreational resource for the large numbers of people visiting the park for leisure purposes.
From the town park starting point, follow the Wellness Activity Route along the upgraded section of Royal Canal towpath between Pipers Boreen, Dublin Bridge, Harbour Bridge, and the Ballymahon Road Bridge (circa 4.6 kilometres ), sampling the varied exercise opportunities now available along the way.
The council is pleased to confirm that the contractors for the installation of the outdoor gym equipment sourced all the materials from local suppliers, and a local company was also engaged in the groundworks.
The council applied for the funding which was made available for small scale recreation projects under the Sports Capital Programme, funded by the National Lottery.
