Ashbourne getting its skates on with exciting new amenity

The new Ashbourne skate park is expected to open later this year, with the proposed new facility to go through the planning process shortly.

Preliminary drawings for the skate park were presented at last week's Ashbourne Municipal Meeting and a public consultation will be carried out in April/May.

Ashbourne teenagers who campaigned for a skate park for the town will be delighted with the news.

Youngsters in the town set up a committee some time ago and handed a petition, signed by 180 people, to councillors, calling for a skate park.

The provision of a skate park was first proposed by former councillor, Niamh McGowan when she was chair of Meath County Council.

Cllr Joe Bonner said the provision of the skate park, which will be located close to the GAA club is great news for the young people of the town.

“It is something that will be very welcome in Ashbourne – a lot of young people campaigned for this facility and it will cater for a lot of teenagers and young people.

“There is a great interest in skateboarding in Ashbourne,” he said.

“It is in a very central area, with the new footbridge ensuring links to the skate park from the various estates in the town and it is close to the new Churchfields estate.”

The project will go to public consultation shortly and it will be screened off from any houses to eliminate any problems with noise.

“There will be new railing around the park, new lighting and car parking, which will also be a help to the nearby playground,” said Cllr Bonner.

“There are linkages to the playground, the town centre and all of the amenities along the linear walkway,” he said.

The proposed linear parkway along the banks of the Broadmeadow river will stretch from the golf club around the town taking in the playground, a new wetlands area and the skate park.

A marshy area close to the skate park site has rewilded itself and has become a wetland. It is expected to have a boardwalk so that people can enjoy the wetland habitats.

The walkways along the linear park will also include a woodland area.

Cllr Bonner pointed out that the skate park will be convenient to the new playground which opened three years ago.

“The playground has proved very popular and is well used by the local community.”

The multi-age play park caters for toddlers, young children and older children and includes an amphitheatre and mural wall.

The history of the area is captured on signage boards, following the discovery of the ruins of Killegland Castle during archaeological investigations of the site. It is linked to Ashbourne town centre by a pedestrian footbridge.