New Fitness Park Officially Launched At Athlone Regional Sports Centre

Friday, 4 June 2021 17:58

Liam Cunningham, General Manager of Athlone RSC; Mayor Aengus O'Rourke; and Jackie Finney, Senior Executive Officer of Athlone-Moate Municipal District

It's proven hugely popular since it opened to the public last September.

Phase One of Athone Regional Sports Centre's Fitness Park has been officially launched today.

The park, which was handed over by contractors last September, has proven hugely popular to the public since its opening and a great resource to the community.

The Fitness Park came at the perfect time while the centre’s main building was closed for indoor activity during lockdown.

The park was developed to increase opportunities for people of any age, level of fitness and ability to feel comfortable exercising and to enjoy a healthy active lifestyle.

It includes the following facilities:

 2.5km trail with gradients (mix of tarmac with golden gravel)
 1.5km flatter route (tarmac)
 Outdoor Gym equipment for Adults
 Outdoor equipment for children
 Climbing Pyramid Net
 Small circular Half basketball court
 Petanque Area
 Picnic Area

The part was funded by the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme through the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Matched funding was provided by Westmeath County Council and the Athlone Regional Sports Centre and the total cost of the project was just over €1 million.

Liam Cunningham, General Manager of Athlone RSC says; “We are very grateful firstly to Westmeath County Council for their unwavering support
and goodwill in making this project happen and to the Department of Community and Rural Development for what is a brilliant scheme to help communities develop good outdoor recreation projects. Westmeath County Council share our vision of getting more people more active, more often”.

The Centre is not stopping there. They hope to install more inclusive outdoor gym equipment in 2021 and to secure future funding to develop Phases Two and Three, which will include a Family Obstacle Course and lighting some of the trails so they can be utilised in dark winter evenings.

Additionally, Athlone RSC has developed two brand new 5-a-side Astro Pitches, placing an emphasis on the surface, which will be one of the only 5-a-side pitches in the country to have a combination of premium level carpet, rubber infill and a shockpad underneath. The pitch is now available for bookings.

The RSC itself is reopening for individual training on Monday 7th June 2021.