Work on Ashbourne playground begins

Work on the new extended playground at the Ashbourne Linear Park began on Monday .
 It is the first step in the proposal by Meath County Council to develop the  Linear Park.
The  €1million development will consist of a new multi-age play park for toddlers, young children and older children.
The plans also include a new feature entrance, an amphi-theatre and mural wall, new footpaths, a wetland habitat area and associated landscaping and planting works.  
The history of the area is captured on signage boards, following the discovery of the ruins of Killegland Castle during archaeological investigations of the site.
The park will be linked to Ashbourne town centre by a pedestrian footbridge and is expected to be completed this summer.
The work will also involve dismantling the old play area.
The linear park, which is an important piece of community infrastructure for the town, will be rolled-out over a number of phases. 
Leas Chathaoirleach of Meath County Council, Cllr Suzanne Jamal welcomed the commencement of the works: “it gives me great pleasure to see this long-awaited project come to fruition for the people of Ashbourne and I am delighted that Meath County Council is now committing significant resources to the linear park.”  
Also at the sod-turning event, the Cathaoirleach of the Ashbourne Municipal District, Cllr Conor Tormey commented that he “looked forward to the completion of this first phase and the realisation of the overall Masterplan for the park in the years to come.”
Ms Fiona Lawless, Director of Services and Area Manager for Ashbourne, thanked the councillors and local community for their support in getting the project to this stage, saying “we wish the consultants and contractors well in their work over the coming months and we hope to complete this first phase by May of this year. 
"We will work with the councillors to deliver the entire park for the community as quickly as possible,” she said.