Waterford cycle track for children honoured with award

A Waterford cycle track for children has been honoured as the winner of an award at the Excellence in Local Government Awards. 

Waterford City and County Council’s ‘Learn to Cycle Track’ in Dungarvan was announced as winner of the Health and Wellbeing category at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards. 

The Health and Wellbeing category recognises best in class efforts by a Local Authority to promote the health and wellbeing of its community, with initiatives such as active transport infrastructure, outdoor recreational areas, or development of facilities that enable and promote physical activities. 

Ireland’s first outdoor ‘Learn to Cycle’ track was officially opened in Fairlane earlier in 2022 and the track gives young children the opportunity to learn to cycle on a ‘real life’ road structure with lines, signs, and pedestrian crossing without the traffic.

The track forms part of a leisure area that contains a playground, a performance area and skatepark, with construction of a BMX pump track due to commence in 2023. 

Director of Services and Dungarvan Town Manager, Kieran Kehoe, commented, "Waterford City and County Council is delighted to have received this award and to be recognised by Chambers Ireland for its commitment in developing Dungarvan as a 'Smarter Travel' town." 

Waterford Council worked in collaboration with Waterford Sports Partnership (WSP) to bring the project to life.

WSP delivers Cycling Ireland courses including balance bike training, disability cycling, sprocket rocket and Cycle Right in a completely accessible and traffic free environment.

Peter Jones of Waterford Sports Partnership also commented and said, "This is a fantastic initiative to be involved with from Day One.  To be recognised nationally for an amenity that ensures children, of all abilities, have a safe and accessible environment to learn to cycle safely, is testament to the vision and dedication of all the stakeholders in bringing the cycle track to Dungarvan.”

President of Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber of Commerce, Oren Byrne, added, "It’s a wonderful addition to the local landscape and judging by the number of children, their parents and schools who use the track, it really is giving our young cyclists the skills to safely cycle on our roads and encourage the use of sustainable transport methods, which will benefit the climate and environment.”

The overall cost of the cycle track was €50,000 with Waterford City and County Council receiving funding from the Local Government Fund and the Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation administered by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.