Serious parking concerns ahead when new athletics track opens in Muirhevnamor Park

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

Serious parking challenges will emerge if a high concentration of sporting and community amenities are located in one part of Dundalk, said a Louth councillor.

Plans to feature a range of activities, including running, boxing, football and athletics in the Muirhevanmor area were highlighted at the October meeting of Louth County Council.

Cllr. Maeve Yore asked for an update on the “masterplan” for Muirhevnamor Park, and whether it would be open to public consultation.

Cllr. Kevin Meenan asked if CCTV at the park could be incorporated into the plan.

"We did spend a huge amount of money installing CCTV in that area a few years ago, and I think we should be able to include it.”

Director of Service, Joanna Kelly, said the council’s Play and Outdoor Recreation Strategies were out for consultation and would be “over arching” strategies, from which potential actions could be fed into the masterplan.

She added that the wider plan for Muirhevnamor was a project that would be looked at next year.

The council is “acutely aware” of the need for greater surveillance, such as CCTV, said Ms. Kelly.

Cllr. Robbie Nash highlighted the potential concentration of a lot of sporting and community activities in one area of the town.

"We are looking at a situation here where we will have astroturf pitches, the boxing club, the community centre, a running track, and the development of the old pitch and putt course.”

He said additional parking would be needed if all these facilities were going to be located at Muirhevnamor Park.

"It is great having all of these amenities, but putting them all in one area. I don’t think it’s fair that everything is in Muirhevnamor.”

“We need to have parking increased, I’m there a few times a week and there is already very little parking.”

Ms. Kelly said the masterplan would “look at all these issues in a holistic manner”.

"But these lands are centrally located in this area of Dundalk, and we will look at the active travel as well,” she added.

Cllr. Marianne Butler said a “quick win” would be “lining out the parking spaces at the front of the boxing club and community centre.”

"They aren’t lined out at the minute,” said Cllr. Butler, adding that cars could be taking up several parking spaces that are in demand.

Meanwhile, Louth County Council confirmed that it began works at the old pitch and putt site in Muirhevnamor Park at the end of September, which are focused on integrating the unused green space into the existing community park.

The scheme covers site clearance, crown lifting of trees, new surfacing works to formalise pathways, new fencing on the west and south sides, and the addition of a new pedestrian crossing from Rockfield Court.

The project team have also identified a number of trees which will need to be removed due to Ash Dieback. New trees will be planted at alternative locations in the park.