Major funding boost for Athlone fitness park

Pictured above: Part of the trail and picnic area in Athlone Regional Sports Centre’s new outdoor fitness park.

The new outdoor fitness park in Athlone Regional Sports Centre has been given a major funding boost.

The project is to receive €61,000 as part of funding allocated to Westmeath Sports Partnership through the Dormant Accounts Fund.

Phase one of the fitness park at Athlone RSC is now open to the public.

It includes looped tracks 2.5kms in length (one of which is for the casual walker, with the other more challenging), two five-a-side astro turf cages, a petanque course, a climbing triangle, outdoor fitness equipment and a half basketball court.

In addition, there a number of picnic tables and seating, two entry points off the Old Rail Trail (greenway), CCTV cameras and some biodiversity areas with plenty of green space.

Under phase two, it is planned to provide a fitness training circuit with numerous obstacles, sensory garden and free Wi-Fi. Most of the amenities on offer are free of charge to use.

The overall cost of this project was just short of €1m with the majority of the funds coming under an outdoor recreation grant scheme, and the remainder coming from both Athlone Regional Sports Centre and Westmeath County Council finances.

In total, Westmeath Sports Partnership will receive €87,760 under the Dormant Accounts Fund - with €11,720 for a sports inclusion disability project, €11,540 for volunteer supports and €3,500 for youth leadership.

The allocation is part of a total investment package of €7.3m in Dormant Accounts Funding announced by Sport Ireland for a wide range of sport and physical activity measures countrywide.

Sport Ireland’s investment aims to engage with communities across the country, focusing on people with disabilities, and people from disadvantaged communities.

Speaking about the new round of Dormant Accounts Funding, Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Catherine Martin TD said: “A key priority for Government is the targeting of resources at programmes that seek to address inequalities in sports participation, in particular socio-economic disadvantage. Similarly, we are keen to ensure that interventions are in place to boost participation levels among people with disabilities. The range of measures funded through the Dormant Accounts Fund is helping to make sport and physical activity more inclusive and accessible for many people right across Ireland.”

Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers TD stated: “The positive impact of sport and physical activity on our physical and mental wellbeing cannot be overstated. The current pandemic has confirmed the critical importance of sport to Irish society and the uplift it provides to people’s spirits. While keeping us fit, regular physical activity is an excellent social outlet for many.”

Tony Wheat, Coordinator of Westmeath Sports Partnership, said: “We are delighted to have received this substantial funding package through the Dormant Accounts Fund. The money will allow us to develop new projects and provide more opportunities for people in Westmeath to participate in sport across the county and to improve their skills through leadership and volunteers supports.”

Among the successful Dormant Accounts Fund projects announced are 13 new innovation projects.

Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, John Treacy said: “The increase in Dormant Accounts Funding will enable Sport Ireland, supported by National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships, to have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of communities throughout Ireland. Key to the work of Sport Ireland is the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to partake in sport and physical activity, no matter what their circumstances.”