‘It’s beyond baffling’ – €600k changing facilities at Meath park still locked three years after opening
State-of-the-art changing rooms built at a Meath park for more than €600,000 remain locked almost three years after their official opening, prompting renewed criticism from a local councillor.
Aontú councillor Emer Tóibín said it is “beyond baffling” that a caretaker has not been appointed to the Blackwater Park changing facilities, despite “repeated assurances” that a recruitment process was underway.
The building at Blackwater Park, which includes changing rooms with shower facilities and public toilets, was officially opened in March 2023.
Speaking this week, Cllr Tóibín said: “The facilities were opened to much anticipation, at a cost of over €600,000, and were promoted as a key enhancement to one of Navan’s most popular amenities.”
“It is a wonderful amenity and one that people genuinely treasure. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a space in Navan.”
"It is used by people from across the county, particularly during the winter months as the park is floodlit. That makes it all the more baffling that the changing rooms and showers remain locked almost three years after their official opening.”
Cllr Tóibín said she has been raising the issue “consistently” and had been told a caretaker recruitment process was underway, with the facilities to open once it was completed.
“To now learn from park users that the changing rooms are still closed is deeply disappointing,” she said.
“It begs the question how such a significant capital project was approved without a clear and workable operational plan in place. Facilities that are built, finished and paid for should be enjoyed by the community.”
With brighter evenings encouraging more people outdoors, the Navan councillor described it as “quite unbelievable that facilities built at a cost of almost €610,000 to the taxpayer remain unavailable to park users”.
“I have written again to Meath County Council seeking a clear explanation for the ongoing delay in recruiting a caretaker and, crucially, a definitive timeline for when park users can finally expect these facilities to open,” she added.
Meath County Council has been contacted for comment.