This image outlines the preferred layout for the proposed town park in Kinnegad. The design will be amended based on the comments and feedback received at the online meeting last Monday. (See full image below story.)

People of Kinnegad will have say in plan for park

The people of Kinnegad must decide whether they want an amphitheatre and skateboard park or a multi use games area in their new town park, which is expected to open in January 2024.

More than 20 people attended an online meeting on Monday of last week, at which design options were discussed. As a result of submissions made, it was agreed to move a proposed sensory area to a quiet part of the park and to provide a looped walkway around it.

All of the designs incorporate crescent shaped mounds the size of half a soccer pitch to allow for free flowing play and an exercise area. There would be walkways and trees through the park, and CCTV cameras.

The park is to be located on a three-acre site where the old community centre used to be. The preference at Monday’s meeting was for the amphitheatre and skateboard park.

Amended plans will be posted on the council’s consultation portal online, in local businesses and schools and with community groups.

The feedback from the meeting suggested that the majority felt the skateboard park would benefit young people that might not enjoy team sports which are already catered for.

Blathnaid Cox of the regeneration team said that the park should be completed by early 2024, depending on how much of the work the council can do themselves.

Melissa Campbell proposed that the sensory area be moved away from the teenage area because it would be loud and intimidating.

Local councillor, Denis Leonard, proposed that the walkway through the park be looped. He felt that the park would be mainly used for walking and meeting up.

Frances Monaghan felt the amphitheatre was “a nice touch” and that young people would enjoy it and the skate park, but was disappointed that there was no dog park included.

Dariusz Liszka felt the skate park and amphitheatre would give more to the community and would offer something different.

Shane Kelly was worried about vandalism and anti-social behaviour and Jimmy O’Connell was concerned that trees would create isolated pockets around the park.

Ms Cox said measures to minimise vandalism and graffiti were to the fore in planning the park. She said the level and density of tree planting proposed is “extremely ambitious” and will probably be reduced when a costing is done. The planting proposed would, however, ensure that no area would be completely isolated.

She confirmed that the multi use games area with large flood lights would be difficult for the community to manage. If the community goes with an option that does not include the games area, the council will do the maintenance.

Antonia Izekor has set up a youth club in Kinnegad and there are 300-plus members aged 13 and over from many parts of the world. She asked if a meeting place could be created for them as part of the plan. She also suggested that the new library should include books from different nationalities to reflect diversity, a suggestion that is to be put to the library service.

Niki Harris said the plan was all outdoor and that does not suit the climate. She did not feel an amphitheatre would be used to its full potential.

We’re getting more bang for our buck if we provide outdoor facilities, Ms Cox explained. She pointed out that plenty of indoor space is being planned for the community library and education and training centre in the old schoolhouse, which will be open from 8am-10pm. The ground floor has three rooms for community groups.

Ms Cox said there was not space for a games area and the amphitheatre and skate park, so the local people would have to choose. There will be further consultation at the planning stage, but we need to decide what to put forward for planning now or it will never get started, Ms Cox remarked.

Among those who attended the meeting were: Annette Barr-Jordan, Westmeath County Council Community Development who acted as facilitator, Ms Cox, senior executive engineer, and a member of regeneration project, Dermot Killeen, executive engineer, Lorraine Middleton, executive planning officer, Gearoid Sheridan, assistant staff officer.

Photo by Gearoid Sheridan