'New beginning' for Meadowbrook as Amenity Park officially opened

Athlone’s newest amenity park was opened in Meadowbrook, Willow Park, on a very wet Monday afternoon by local Athlone politicians, Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran and Mayor Frankie Keena. A plaque commemorating the occasion is placed on the community house in Meadowbrook.

The new amenity park, which is situated at the back of the Willow Park area, consists of a wildflower area, a sensory path, an outdoor exercise area, a heritage and arts area, playground, a green area with mature trees. Seating is strategically placed in the new park.
Meadowbrook Amenity Park was the brainchild of the local committee, and there was much praise from politicians and invited guests for their chairperson, Padraig Higgins and committee members. 
The rain kept most of the gathering of guests in the Meadowbrook Community House on the day, but they were entertained by the music of the Army Quintet from Custume Barracks. 
Mayor Frankie Keena said that it was a great day for Willow Park to see the amenity park come to fruition.
“The amenity park is marvellous for the area, for people’s downtime and tranquility and a place to relax,” said the Athlone Mayor. “For these things to happen, there was a need for a committee and for funding, and I’d like to compliment Padraig, who was on the ball, and the officer board.”
Mayor Keena praised Clann Credo, which originally provided a funding loan to the Meadowbrook project, and to the Leader Programme, which gave the community the funding to help put the amenity park in place.
Enda Fallon, who was the landscape architect of the park, was living in the Willow Park at the time he designed the amenity area. He told the gathering about standing with Padraig Higgins, in the area when it was a wasteland, listening to each other’s ideas.
“I have to admit I had visions of Monsignor Horan wanting to build an airport,” he said to laughter from the gathering. “The vision Padraig showed to me at the time was one of inclusion with a sense of pride and community.”
Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran praised many people who over the years supported development at Willow Park.
“When I joined the council (1999) there was one man who I used to call, Daddy, Egbert Moran and at every meeting he was talking about Willow Park and when he retired there was Sheila Buckley-Byrne, who was also on about Willow Park,” said Boxer.
The Minister called the Meadowbrook Amenity Park, “a tremendous park for the people”. 
Boxer said every public representative played their part with Willow Park, and he gave a special mention to the late Deputy Nicky McFadden and her father, Cllr Brendan McFadden.
“Padraig Higgins has done tremendous work here and had the will to see it all through and we can hear the kids outside the door now. This is their new beginning,” said the Athlone Minister.