Skatepark to be built on the site of former Longford greyhound track

There have been calls for years for a skatepark to be built for the people of Longford Town.

Local politicians have given the green light for a state-of-the-art skatepark to be built in Longford Town on the site of the town's former greyhound track, the Longford Leader reports. Local authorities secured the site on Park Road earlier this year, as council bosses agreed a proposed location for the new facility after holding talks with Longford Youth Service and a local skatepark committee in September. Speaking to the Longford Leader, Cllr Peggy Nolan said:

It just goes to show if you keep pushing for something, good things will happen... This (development) was imperative. When you look around at other counties and neighbouring ones at that, they all have skate parks. There is no better place for it than Longford Greyhound Track, it's close to the railway and local businesses and will be a huge tourism boost for the town.

In May of this year, Longford County Council heard how skating can have a positive impact on people's mental health, and that a safe space was needed for skaters as well as those who use in line skates or BMX bikes to meet and engage in their sport. The Longford Town Skatepark committee have been campaigning for a skatepark since 2015. Header image via Shutterstock  READ NEXT: 'What's the bear for?' People are shook by this Toblerone realisation