After a number of years in the pipeline, Westmeath County Council has finally started the process to construct a skate park in Mullingar.
First suggested over seven years ago, the town has seen its Gateway neighbours of both Athlone and Tullamore succeed in having skate parks built well before a decision could be made in Mullingar.
However, this week the county council went public with its provisional plans for the €120,000 installation and has asked the public, and particularly, the younger sector, to offer its opinions on the five potential sites offered by the council around the town.
The skate park will be entirely funded from money collected from the town’s paid parking system.
The sites are: the Ballymahon Road, in the green area between the canal and the road, opposite the old Horizon site; the middle of the Fair Green; beside the pond in the town park; Bleach Yard Road, between the railway and the new car park behind the new council offices at the bottom of the Jail Hill; and on the new Robinstown Link Road, beside the D’Alton Park creche.
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, are on display in the Atrium of the County Buildings or can be downloaded from the council’s website.
“The council would welcome comments and submissions from the public in relation to the five sites, and to suggest any alternative site which is felt may be more suitable,” a spokesperson said.
“There’s people out there brighter than ourselves, and may come up with a better site. All will be considered,” he added.
Observations and submissions can be made in writing to the Mullingar area office, County Buildings, Mullingar, or online at westmeathcoco.ie
Alternatively, comments can be noted in the book alongside the drawings on display in the Atrium.
The closing date for all subnissions is Friday September 7 after which a report will be brought to the members of the Mullingar area with a recommended site.
Once they have decided upon this, the council can then initiate the planning process for the skate park.
