A new innitiative has been launched in Clonown with the aim of purchasing land from the county council and establishing a community recreation site in the village. The fund-raising campaign was launched yesterday, 1st June 2010, in the hope of raising the necessary funds within the next 12 months.
Background
The Clonown area currently has no purpose built recreational area and with the lack of safe walking routes, it is difficult for local people to walk, cycle or exercise in the area, particularly in the winter months.
In recent years, Roscommon County Council purchased land off the late Pat Hynes to extend Clonown Cemetery. There is a site of over three acres to the front of the cemetery which is not required for cemetery use. In December 2009, a number of local people formed a committee with a purpose of purchasing and developing this site. The committee, along with local county councillors have been in discussions with Roscommon County Council. The Council is prepared to make the site available at a significant discount to the local community. Due to recent negotiations the price of the site is now at €35,000.
Facilities
This site has many benefits due to the central location and level surface. The site could be used for some of the following:
- A lit walking track.
- Children’s play area.
- Playing field for sports.
- Option for further development such as shop, crèche and the hosting of local sports events.
The Committee considers this to be an excellent opportunity for the local community to have a recreational area.
Funding
The committee has discussed the funding options available. The committee has recommended that donations be requested from people who live within the community, have family connections in the community, and those living in the adjoining areas.
The committee also recognises the present difficult economic circumstances. Therefore the committee are asking for donations of either €100 per adult or per household. Donations of more or less than €100 will also be gladly accepted. All donor’s names and addresses (excluding donation amount) will be recorded in a special register which will be stored locally and published at a later date. People can also donate on someone else’s behalf and the beneficiary name can then be recorded in the register if requested. The committee would like to ask all Clonown people to let their friends and relations from outside the area know about this project. For further information and a copy of the information leaflet, please visit www.clonown.com
The committee will also be asking local businesses to donate and all donors will be entered in a corporate section in the register.
Once purchased, there are a number of funding options available such as the Roscommon Integrated Development Company (integrated LEADER Partnership Company for County Roscommon), which funds the development of community projects. In order to apply for the RIDC grant, the applicant must own their own site. This funding scheme is due to expire in 2013. It is important that the community purchases this site in order to apply for grant assistance.
Committee members will be calling to each house in the area from 1 June 2010.
Further Information
For anyone interested in joining the committee or helping with fundraising
please contact a member at the numbers below.
- Jackie Cunningham (Chairperson) 086 3559003
- Ronan Gavin (Secretary) 086 3029804
- Paul Curley (Treasurer) 086 3349585
- Michael Shine 087 9046317
- Tony Dunning 087 9082888
- Shane Gavin 087 7723509
- Denis Gavin 086 1992422
- Tom O’Brien 087 2437854
- Anthony Dalton 087 8398791
- Kenny Macken 086 8446511