By Michelle Crean

Skateboarders from Killarney and beyond will be delighted to hear that plans for the €220,000 new dedicated state-of-the-art skatepark have been given the official seal of approval.

The new fun facility for anyone interested in the sport will be developed at Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre and it's hoped to be up and running early next year.

Six councillors in attendance at Wednesday's Special Killarney MD Meeting, held in the ANAM Cultural Centre in town, voted in favour for it to go-ahead. Cllr John O'Donoghue was absent from the meeting.

There were 26 submissions for the skatepark, the majority of which agreed that it would be a positive addition for the youth of the town.

The skatepark's surface will be constructed using a smooth durable concrete to minimise noise pollution. Access to the facility will be by way of 1.8m wide concrete footpaths located within the grounds of the complex.

The skatepark will be insured and maintained by Kerry County Council and there'll be a 2.4 high perimeter fencing surrounding the facility with two lockable access gates, and CCTV.

The skatepark opening hours during winter are planned from 9am to 6pm and during the summer from 9am to 9pm, as agreed by the councillors at the meeting. During the night it'll be closed to the public with no lighting to discourage any anti-social behaviour.

The Council have agreed to co-fund the project in the amount of 30% and it's hoped further funds will be made available from the Sports Capital Grant which will be announced this November.

IDEA

The idea for the project was suggested by Cllr Donal O'Grady three years ago to give skateboard enthusiasts a dedicated place for the sport in town. Many sites were looked at and plans had been ongoing in the background with the support of Town Manager Angela McAllen and County Manager Moira Murrell.

During Wednesday's meeting Cllr Grady positively welcomed the project and thanked everyone involved for their support.

"I'm so grateful to everyone who was involved, including my fellow councillors," he said. "I thank Kerry County Council, they put a lot of work, certainly our county manager, she's put a lot of work in there providing the site. It's something that we as a Council can be very proud of, I've no doubt in my mind about that. We have a lot of work to do to iron it out to make sure it's top of the range."

He added that the KDYS came on board to represent the youth of the town which he's also very grateful for.

In their submission, Killarney Skatepark Committee, signed by Chairperson Sean Murphy and Secretary Barry Coen, said that "the group is committed to supporting the building of a purpose built facility in Killarney for skateboarding, BMX riding, rollerblading, scooter and or other craft that may join the realm of extreme sports in the future". 

"Through this letter, we wish to pledge our full support for a skatepark; a project which we firmly believe has the potential to benefit the wider community. Skateparks are proven amenities in providing an opportunity for (young) people to socialise in a safe environment, through a sport which offers significant physical and mental benefits. We also believe that the skatepark will diversity what Killarney has to offer to the many tourists who visit our town each year, in turn supporting local businesses."

Councillor Niall Kelleher welcomed the skatepark and said he "was absolutely blown away by the engagement from the community" for this project.