Work to begin on Charlestown park next month

Work to begin on Charlestown park


Anton McNulty

WORK on the new Charlestown town park and playground is expected to begin next month after planning for the €2 million project was given the go-ahead at last week’s meeting of the Swinford Electoral Area committee.
The new park and playground will be located next to the Parochial House in the town after the site of land was donated to Mayo County Council by the Catholic Church. In exchange for the donation, a contribution of €100,000 will be made by the Council for the development of a new car park beside the church.
The Part Eight planning process for the project was passed at last week’s Swinford Electoral Area meeting and will be formally approved at the March meeting of Mayo County Council. The project is funded by Mayo County Council through the Social and Economic Fund and will be developed over the next three years.
Charlestown-based Cllr Gerry Murray said he was delighted the playground was getting the go-ahead and expected work to begin on site before St Patrick’s Day. Cllr Murray said that every year they tried to get a flagship project for the town and last year they developed the new Arts Centre and Library.
“I am delighted that this park will be going ahead, which will also be linked in with a playground on the two-and-a-half-acre site. It is something the town needed, especially for parents with young kids. A few years ago the Church indicated that they had a prime piece of land and we happily accepted the land from the Church,” he said.