Roscrea's new skate-park will be an exciting addition for local teenagers
The new facility will also boast a dedicated social area for teenagers and an all weather pitch
A new skate-park and area dedicated to teenagers will be an exciting step forward for young people in Roscrea, the local Municipal Council heard at their monthly meeting in Thurles on Monday.
The project, will be built on the Old Dublin Road (N62) on a piece os disused land adjacent to Roscrea Lesiure Centre and the civic amenity site (recycling centre).
The project received Part VIII planning approval and will see the creation of a new recreation area mostly aimed at non-contact sports and hobbies and enable young people not enticed by traditional options such as football, rugby, or hurling, to explore different pursuits.
The idea was first proposed several years ago by local Councillor, Shane Lee, who told Monday's meeting it is a project he has remained passionate about throughout his time as a local representatives and particularly proud to see delivered.
The success of a similar amenity in Birr was an inspiration he explained, and he thanked the staff at the District staff for helping to deliver an amenity which will be very welcome in Roscrea, he said.
“The skate-park in Birr is always busy and is very popular and people travel to Birr to use it”, he said.
Cllr. Lee said it is important to offer young people some variety and choices in active pursuits and it is important to remember not everyone wants to engage in only team sports.
The new amenity's location, adjacent to the Leisure Centre and on one of the town's busiest approach roads is “perfect” he said and will be a major enhancement for the town.
This was echoed by Cathaoirleach and fellow Roscrea councillor, Michael Smith, who said that the time taken to ensure the correct location was chosen “was worth it” and thanked the Council staff for their work on delivering it.
“It will be a fantastic facility - located right beside swimming pool and Leisure Centre and the tennis courts”, the Cathaoirleach said.
“The biggest stumbling block was finding the right location”, he added.
As well as a skate-park the facility will boast a social area dedicated to teenagers and an MUGA pitch (multi-use games areas), which are small sports pitches typically found at schools, leisure centres, local parks and sports clubs. They can be used to play a variety of different sports including football, tennis and basketball.
New Councillor Willie Kennedy also recognised the good work of the Council staff and urged more smiliar facilities be created across the District “for children who don't want to play contact sports”.