Work begins on linear parkway in Dunboyne

Work on a €4 million linear walkway and playing fields project at Rooske Road, Dunboyne, has begun, following an official sod turning by the cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, Councillor Nick Killian, Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport, Jack Chambers, Minister for Justice & Equality, Helen McEntee and council chief executive Jackie Maguire.

The site will be developed to provide a linear walkway, sports playing fields, changing facilities and a car park that will consist of 98 parking spaces including disabled parking bays.

The linear pedestrian walkway will link Rooske Road with Dunboyne Main Street/Maynooth Road via the existing public park.

The pedestrian walkway is proposed to run alongside the Castle Stream and to cross the stream by reinstalling the old William Turner Bridge which was removed during flood alleviation works in 2012.

The walkway will incorporate outdoor exercise equipment along its length.

In addition to the linear walkway, the project includes playing fields on the site. The playing fields will consist of three junior playing fields and an all-weather pitch. A building adjacent to the car-park will include changing facilities, a meeting room, an office and storage area.

Minister Jack Chamber said the project was financed as part of Government’s Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).

"On days like these, we get a real sense of the work and commitment needed between my Department, Meath County Council, and key stakeholder groups like St Peter's GAA to deliver the necessary essential infrastructure that will significantly improve and support the health and wellbeing of the people of Dunboyne and its surrounds," he added.

Cllr Killian added: "We thank all of the parties involved in getting this project to the construction phase, including Meath County Council, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, St Peter’s GAA and GLAS Civil Engineering Ltd. This has taken time and great effort, but it is a great development for Dunboyne and the wider community."

Ms Maguire explained: "From the council’s perspective, the project was an ideal candidate for funding under the LSSIF programme. Recent years have been unlike any other, the challenges of the pandemic have brought the issue of health and wellbeing to the forefront of all our lives like never before. We are reminded again and again of the importance of simple needs of good health, access to services and healthy environments. Working in partnership with St Peter’s GAA club helps ensure we reach everyone and that no one is left behind."