New neighbourhood sports and community centre proposed for Meakstown

Fingal County Council has unveiled plans to develop a new sports hall and community centre at Lanesborough Park in Meakstown which will see a much-needed facility built to help cater for a wide-range of community, recreational, education and sporting activities in the area.  

The new state-of-the-art leisure centre would include a three-court sports hall and four large multipurpose rooms for activities such as dance classes, yoga sessions, Pilates, training workshops and community meetings. The energy efficient circular building – which has been designed by an Integrated Design Team led by Henchion Reuter Architects - will also enable the spatial flow of the park landscape around the proposed facility.  

The centre will also look to focus on encouraging active travel in the community, with access gained primarily through pedestrianised walkways and via cycle paths. There will be parking provision for 40 bicycles, including electric bikes, cargo bikes and scooters.  

External landscaping will also enhance the surrounding area, with efforts to be made that will increase biodiversity and boost the ecological potential of the park. One of the centre pieces of this would see the creation of a unique raingarden with wildflowers, sedges, rushes, ferns and shrubs.  

Mayor of Fingal County Council Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh said: “This will be fantastic new sports centre and public space, with a stunning design and packed full of spaces and facilities for the people of Meakstown to enjoy.  

“We want feedback from as many people as possible at this early stage so that we can be sure that what we have envisaged meets their needs and that they are helping us to shape the final designs accordingly.”  

AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, said: “We’re really happy with what has been proposed at Meakstown and how it integrates with plans for the wider Lanesborough Park Development. It’s a fully accessible facility which will not only provide a much-needed sports centre, but also helps create a community space fit for the future.  

“It is vitally important that we now hear the views of those who will use this great addition to the area - I encourage people to take the time to look at what’s proposed and to share their views with us so that we get it right.”  

The Council is urging the local community to have their say on the proposed sports centre and civic space. People are invited to view the plans on the Council’s Consultation Portal https://consult.fingal.ie/en/browse and can share their comments online or by submitting a written response to the Council.  

The consultation period will close at 5pm on 17 December 2021.