Slow to change.... Blackwater Park dressingrooms remain closed three years after official opening

Three years after the official opening of changing and toilet facilities at Blackwater Park in Navan, the changing rooms and showers remain locked.

Calls have been made on the council to open the facilities as the park is widely used by local sporting groups. The toilet facilities are open to the public.

Olaf Dennison, event director of the Navan Park run, said there is a lot of disappointment that the changing facilities and showers are not available.

“We have an average of 120 people taking part in the park run each week. The event attracts visitors from some distance away, and although the building is there, they have nowhere to change or shower.”

“We are very grateful to have Blackwater Park in Navan. The council has done wonderful work and provided other great facilities in the park, but the changing facilities , why no use them,” he said.

“We are not the only sporting group using the park. There are other running groups, Meath Sports Partnership and other sports organisations.

“From a personal point of view, I live in Kells and have to go to work after the Park Run so I don't get a chance to shower after the run,” he said.

Cllr Emer Tóibín said it was beyond baffling that Meath County Council has not employed a caretaker for the facilities , despite giving repeated assurances that a recruitment process was underway.

“The facilities were opened to much anticipation, at a cost of over € 600,000 and were promoted as a key enhancement to one of Navan’s most popular amenities. It is a wonderful amenity and one that people genuinely treasure. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a space in Navan. It is used by people from across the county, particularly during the winter months as the park is floodlit. That makes it all the more baffling that the changing rooms and showers remain locked almost three years after their official opening.

“I have been raising this issue consistency, and I was assured that a caretaker recruitment process was underway and that the facilities would open once this was completed. To now learn from park users that the changing rooms are still closed is deeply disappointing.

“It begs the question how such a significant capital project was approved without a clear and workable operational plan in place. Facilities that are built, finished and paid should be enjoyed by the community.

“As the evenings grow brighter, people are eager to get out and be active. It is quite unbelievable that facilities built at a cost of almost €610k to the taxpayer remain unavailable to the park users.

“I have written again to Meath County Council seeking a clear explanation for the ongoing delay in recruiting a caretaker and, crucially, a definitive timeline for when park users can finally expect these facilities to open.”

A spokesperson for Meath County Council said that once the appropriate personnel have been appointed, the facilities will be opened to the public and will be bookable through Meath County Council’s Community Section. The recruitment process is currently ongoing.