€40,000 to be spent on Mullingar Town Park

Some €40,000 is going to be spent on Mullingar Town Park on upgrading the playground equipment and other improvements.

Almost €16,000 has been allocated to upgrade the toddler area, to which Westmeath County Council will add 20%, and the council has approved another €20,000 for the park in general.

The town mayor, Cllr Aoife Davitt, at the April meeting of Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District, asked that the playground equipment be painted, upgraded and fixed where necessary.

She suggested that small Astroturf strips should be provided for those wishing to play bowls. She was assured that the council would keep that in mind.

Cllr Emily Wallace claimed that there were broken swings and slides at the park playground and issues regarding mobility access. "It is unacceptable to have a playground that is not fit for purpose," she complained, adding that the onus was on the council to provide a playground.

She asked how often the playground was inspected and suggested that as it was one of the most utilised playgrounds in the district, it should be inspected more regularly than others.

Cllr Hazel Smyth agreed that the park should be safe and attractive. She spoke of the €15,852 that had been allocated to upgrade the playground, particularly for children with disabilities.

Cllr Bill Collentine reminded the members that Mullingar Town Park gets the Green Flag every year "and that doesn’t come easy". He said it is a beautiful park that is used extensively and a credit to the council staff who maintain it.