Call to reopen Carey Bridge Park gains cross-party support

Mullingar councillors have backed a proposal to explore the reopening of a former public park at Carey Bridge, with officials confirming that investigations are underway to establish ownership of the site and assess the feasibility of bringing the amenity back into public use.

At this week’s meeting of the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District, Cllr Bill Collentine tabled a motion calling on the district to reopen the park at Carey Bridge “for the people of Mullingar to enjoy”.

However, council officials advised members that the land is not currently in the ownership of Westmeath County Council. The local authority said further investigations and engagement with landowners and other stakeholders will be required before any plans can advance.

Speaking in support of his motion, Cllr Collentine described the former park as a valued community asset that had been enjoyed by generations of residents.

“This is about reopening the little public park at Carey Bridge for the people of Mullingar to enjoy,” he said. “It was open for years and was used by a lot of people. It was a great facility, a beautiful park and it’s in a great central location.”

The councillor said the site’s proximity to the Royal Canal and its woodland setting made it an attractive place for residents and visitors to relax.

He argued that the closure of the park had been a reaction to antisocial behaviour by a small number of individuals and suggested the issue had not been handled appropriately at the time.

Cllr Collentine maintained that reopening the area would involve relatively little expense, noting that it had previously operated as a public park. He urged the council to identify the landowner and explore options such as a lease arrangement to facilitate public access once again.

The proposal received support from councillors across the chamber.

Seconding the motion, Cllr Ken Glynn said the location offered significant potential as a public amenity despite the challenges that had previously arisen.

“It’s in a striking location,” he said. “It’s somewhere people can sit, reflect and enjoy the surroundings. There’s nothing more calming than looking at water.”

While acknowledging that investment would be required to reopen and maintain the site, Cllr Glynn said the park could become a valuable outdoor amenity for Mullingar’s growing population.

“With the direction the town has been going and the amount of development around it, this would add to a busy, thriving town and a growing population,” he said.

Cllr Julie McCourt also supported the proposal, describing the site as a space that could be developed into an asset for the town.

“I think it’s a space that could be developed into something that would be a big advantage to the town,” she said.

Responding on behalf of the council, district official Mary Goldsberry confirmed that staff are currently researching ownership of the land.

“We’re investigating who owns the land because it’s not in the ownership of Westmeath County Council,” she said. “We’re doing some research on it and seeing what the appetite is for us developing it and whether consent could be given.”

Ms Goldsberry added that any redevelopment of the site would not qualify under the Rural Support Scheme due to its urban location and would instead need to be considered through the council’s own budget estimates process.

Despite the funding challenges, she said the local authority would “certainly explore all avenues”.

The motion was supported by members, with the council now expected to continue its investigations into ownership and potential options for restoring the former park as a public amenity.