Athlone boardwalk and Shannon swimming pool moving ahead after funding boost
The planned development of a riverside boardwalk and an urban swimming pool in the River Shannon in Athlone is to move forward to the "detailed design and planning" stage after receiving a funding boost of more than half a million euro last week.
Fáilte Ireland announced funding approval of €561,803 for the detailed design and planning of a "Boardwalk and Outdoor Urban Swimming Pool in Athlone", under the Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, which is part of the EU Just Transition Fund.
The funding has been welcomed by Westmeath County Council, which said the project had the potential to add to Athlone's attractiveness from a tourism perspective.
"The project aims to activate Athlone's scenic waterfront and increase its appeal to domestic and international tourists, while also adding to the recreational amenities available to local communities," said council director of services Ambrose Clarke.
"The plans will incorporate universal access design principles and will ensure optimum use and enjoyment for all users, catering for all ages and abilities. We look forward to working with Fáilte Ireland to deliver this project."
The local authority said the detailed designs will feature a new boardwalk, of approximately 450 metres in length, alongside the east bank of the River Shannon, linking the Old Rail Trail cycleway and the new Greenway bridge to Custume Place and Burgess Park.
The council added that the project "also includes the design of an iconic outdoor urban swimming pool on the Shannon, which will be accessible from the boardwalk".
Cllr Liam McDaniel, Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, welcomed the announcement, stating: "Athlone offers a wealth of natural and built assets, which will be further elevated with the addition of the proposed outdoor pool and boardwalk.
"The project aims to enable the development of a new amenity that will have universal appeal, creating an attractive waterfront destination in the heart of the town."
Paddy Mathews, Head of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands at Fáilte Ireland, added: "Developing the tourism offering in Westmeath has the potential to transform this county and the wider Midlands into a world-class sustainable tourism destination.
"Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and European Union, the EU Just Transition Fund is a once-in-a-generation funding scheme and projects like the detailed design and planning of a Boardwalk and Outdoor Urban Swimming Pool in Athlone, funded under our Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, will help create more reasons for domestic and international tourists to visit the Midlands while also sustaining jobs, businesses and local communities.
"We look forward to working closely with Westmeath County Council to deliver this project and support the development of regenerative tourism for the benefit of visitors and communities across the region," Mr Mathews concluded.