Hodson Bay waterfront park plans take another step forward

Plans for a state-of-the-art waterfront park at Hodson Bay took another step forward this week with Roscommon County Council advertising for the services of tourism consultants to prepare a comprehensive Tourism and Economic Benefit Report on the proposed project.

Roscommon County Council is planning to appoint a consultancy team in April and to have the final Tourism and Economic Benefit Report completed by September.

The hugely-ambitious Hodson Bay Waterfront Park would result in the area becoming one of of the leading centres for water-based tourism in Ireland.

The plan would see the construction of a continuous promenade along the length of the Hodson Bay shoreline, an extension of the Waterways Ireland marina to provide up to 50 new berths for cruisers and visiting craft and the creation of a new immersive water experience.

Also forming part of the plans is a detailed access, parking and transport strategy which is designed to enable a safe environment for non-motorised users and include a link to the proposed new Mid-Shannon Wilderness Park Greenway.

In order to facilitate car users, this element of the plan would see the re-development of new car parking facilities at a number of locations in the area – a move which would necessitate the acquisition of lands.

The preparation of a Tourism and Economic Benefit Report for the waterfront project at Hodson Bay is to be compiled in two stages – market analysis and project impact.

The council has said that consultants may be required to present their proposals to meetings of the Athlone Municipal District of Roscommon County Council and also to the members of the Monksland Town Team, as well as liaising and working with the council's own Project Steering Group.

Roscommon County Council and Waterways Ireland has already received funding from Fáilte Ireland under the EU Just Transition Fund to take the proposed Hodson Bay Waterfront Park project through the design and environmental evaluation and statutory consent stages, along with the completion of a Tourism and Economic Benefit Report, which it is now seeking to progress.

Roscommon County Council has said it is committed to delivering a series of major projects in the county over the next five years, including the advancement of the Hodson Bay Waterfront Park project which, it says, will “significantly enhance the quality of life for our residents and foster sustainable development across the county.”

An integral part of the project is to ensure it delivers on the counckil’s key objective to “expand and support sustainable tourism at Hodson Bay.” The report which is to be prepared will be required to explore how the potential for tourism “can be maximised” as part of the waterfront development.

A tourism masterplan (2020-2030) prepared on behalf of Waterways Ireland and Fáilte Ireland describes how the river Shannon will become “Ireland’s surprising heart” and will be highly valued for its “special environmental qualities and biodiversity” by locals and visitors alike.

The vision also states that the river will become a “haven for on-water experiences” and will invite the visitor to “slow down, stay longer and to engage with its heritage and communities.”

Plans for a major redevelopment of the tourism offering at Hodson Bay were devised by Roscommon County County on the back of a report it commissioned in 2023 which identified a number of key issues hampering the development of the area as a flagship tourism facility.

The report identified capacity issues at the Waterways Ireland marina; limited access to the area with an over-reliance on the private car park; poorly developed visitor experiences along the waterfront and a lack of supporting services such as accommodation, food and drink, with the exception of the existing hotel.

The four pillars of the Hodson Bay Waterfront Park are: the promenade development; the marina development; as reimagine water play experience and an access, parking and transport strategy.

The proposed water play experience would have a “Scandinavian style leaning” and would provide facilities for on water activities such as boating and swimming with the provision of amenities including toilets, showers and a café.

The landscape surrounding the building would form a plaza space with soft landscape areas and a board walk with steps leading down onto the water.