Major funding boost for Galway park as trail and car park upgrades planned
Monivea Forest Park has been selected as a key beneficiary of a major investment by Coillte and the Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht department, as part of a wider programme across Co Galway.
Under the national scheme, €76,000 has been allocated to Monivea for upgrades to its car park and a full revitalisation of large sections of its trail network. The funding forms part of a broader €3.13 million package.
While Monivea is the flagship project locally, a number of other recreational areas across the county, including Clonbur, Gort, Aghrane and Cong, are also set to benefit from general maintenance and improvement works.
Portumna Forest Park has also been included in the allocation for ongoing maintenance. The park has been at the centre of community debate since plans for a proposed masterplan were shelved by Coillte in early March.
The Portumna Forest Park Community Group had raised concerns that the masterplan would prioritise profit-driven changes. However, when the proposal was ultimately dropped, the group expressed fresh fears that the park could instead be sidelined.
Separately, Monivea Forest Park has recently completed a lengthy rehabilitation process following extensive damage caused by Storm Éowyn. Recovery works have taken more than 18 months to complete.