Community groups outline vision for Burgess Park as consultation draws scant response

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Westmeath County Council has carried out an early public consultation on the Burgess Park Public Amenity Masterplan, marking the first step in what could become a major redevelopment of one of Athlone’s key public spaces.

The consultation, which opened on December 3, was designed to gather early-stage public feedback before any detailed design or planning decisions are made.

The masterplan process, still very much at a formative stage, invited residents and park users to share their views through an online questionnaire. The council says the aim is to reimagine Burgess Park as a more community-focused, inclusive and flexible space.

Ideas discussed at recent council meetings have included the possibility of a community café, a more integrated and modern playground, improved sound and electrical infrastructure to support festivals and events, and the development of a stage or platform area.

Despite the significance of the project, engagement with the consultation has been limited. When submissions on the Burgess Park Public Amenity Masterplan Project closed on Monday, January 26, there were just five submissions from the public.

One response was from Cllr Frankie Keena, who suggested CCTV and solar-powered lighting along the pathways, the provision of a combination of 32 amp and 16 amp electrical points at a number of key locations throughout the park to cater for various community festivals and events, as well as a 'long overdue' plaque beside the tree that was planted in memory of all those people who died in Westmeath due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Fianna Fáil councillor also suggested the installation of outdoor gym equipment in the park, and a changing place and showers for appropriate public convenience.

Members of the public accounted for the other four submissions. One respondent suggested the provision of basic campervan parking facilities to be made available at the park, including shower and toilet facilities, waste disposal, drinking water, and electric power points. They also suggested the addition of a covered bandstand for community and organised groups to hold entertainment or educational events.

Other recommendations included widening the pathways to make them accessible to all members of the public, and the enhancement of playground facilities to accommodate a wider age range.

"The playground currently in Burgess Park is in a terrible state, however it is almost always in use. There is a large number of families living close to the Burgess Park area who are living in apartments with no access to gardens, so it is vital that the park can accommodate exercise and play of children in the area," said one respondent.

Another added: "I think there should be an emphasis on creating an outdoor fitness park including more lighting around a looped track with different interlacing sections. More picnic benches and art just like Dun na Si in Moate."

The Westmeath Independent spoke with local community organisations that regularly use the park to explore how they believe the space could be enhanced and better utilised.

The Athlone Family Resource Centre has highlighted the significant potential for expanding and developing community spaces in Athlone. With the community at the heart of its ethos, the organisation stresses that accessible, well-designed spaces are essential for everyone from local clubs and educational groups to arts and heritage organisations.

The Resource Centre said that over the years, many community spaces, along with green areas that once preserved local biodiversity along the River Shannon, have disappeared. The centre put forward proposals aimed at supporting community-led development while enhancing public recreational facilities, all while prioritising the protection of local wildlife.

The organisation emphasised that these initiatives are intended to be inclusive and accessible to all members of Athlone’s diverse community, with disability access and inclusion central to the planning.

Among their ideas is the creation of a community-led indoor café and events space that would also function as an educational hub, set within a community garden. This concept draws inspiration from the successful Dún na Sí Heritage Park in Moate, though it would be tailored to Athlone’s more urban environment.

Other proposals include planting native trees, shrubs, living willow arches, and pollinator flower beds along the Shannon to encourage biodiversity, which has been affected by urban sprawl. Bat and bird boxes would be installed on existing trees to further support local wildlife. The centre also envisions a community orchard with native fruit bushes, seating, and space for outdoor events such as ‘Apple Day’ and the ‘National Community Street Feast.’

To enhance the connection between people and nature, coin-operated binocular stations could be installed overlooking the Shannon Callows, complemented by a digital interactive map showcasing the area’s rich variety of species, they suggested. Improvements to the Shannon banks nature trail and Greenway, including bicycle racks, water refill stations, bins, and clear signage, would make the area more welcoming for walkers, cyclists, and families alike.

Finally, an outdoor events space is proposed to host music and cultural activities, complementing Athlone’s growing festival scene and strengthening the town’s potential as a hub for arts and culture. The Resource Centre believes these initiatives could transform Burgess Park and its surroundings into a vibrant, inclusive community space, balancing recreation, education, and biodiversity for the benefit of all residents.

Members of Athlone Sub Aqua Club, who have provided a voluntary search and recovery service to Athlone and the wider Midlands for more than 40 years, have also shared their views on how Burgess Park could be enhanced as part of any future redevelopment. Drawing on their long experience working on and around the river, the group highlighted the importance of safety, accessibility and practical facilities along the waterfront.

They stressed the need for ample lighting throughout the park, particularly near the water’s edge. With features such as a boardwalk being proposed, they said there should be easy access to water safety equipment, including life buoys similar to those used by River Awareness groups. While a new slipway is already in place, the club said improved access to it is needed, along with a nearby car park for boat trailers, to encourage greater use outside lock gate opening hours.

Other suggestions included enhanced lighting beneath any boardwalk or along existing steps to address darkened areas of the water, and the provision of a designated tie-up area for boats, similar to the town marina, with access to facilities such as toilets and showers.