Ireland’s first outdoor ‘Learn to Cycle’ park has been opened in the west Waterford town of Dungarvan.
The Learn to Cycle track will allow young children to learn to cycle on a ‘real life’ road structure with lines, signs, and pedestrian crossing without traffic.
This “learn to cycle’ outdoor track costs a total of €50,000.
The popular park is situated close to the hugely popular and populated Waterford Greenway, onto which children will undoubtedly graduate, having developed their skills and awareness in a safe environment.
It was officially opened by Dungarvan/Lismore municipal district chairperson Cllr Tom Cronin, who said it also reflected the “growing new appreciation of the outdoors” across all sectors of the community.
It is also projected that crèches and pre-schools will use the facility as part of RSA programmes like Simon and Friends and Road Safety Awareness week events.
The cost of the cycle track was met by a mixture of funding from Waterford Council’s local government fund and the Department of Children’s capital grant scheme for play and recreation.
Waterford City and County Council’s Road Safety Officer, Jemma Jacob, said the new cycle track will allow children to develop their cycling skills in a “mock road situation”.
“We anticipate creches and pre-schools will use the facility to deliver Road Safety Authority programmes such as Simon and Friends and Road Safety Awareness week events.
“By including a ‘real life’ road structure and two teaching areas, this facility will allow youngsters to learn how to step, stride, glide and turn on balance bikes and put these skills to the test in a mock road situation.”
The €50,000 project was delivered by Waterford contractors Richard Forristal Ltd.