Big boost for £2.8m maritime park plan

July 1990

PLANS to establish a national maritime park in Arklow got a big boost this week with the news that the project has won a top national award.

Entered in the ESB Community Enterprise Award Scheme, the maritime park project has been judged category winners for towns with a population of 5,500 to 15,000.

In addition to winning one of the four £10,000 category awards, the project will now go forward to be judged for the overall which carries a top prize of £60,000, and as one of the winners will be featured in a national conference exhibition in September.

Under the £2.8m maritime park project, one of ninety entries from all over the country in the ESB Community Enterprise Award Scheme, it is envisaged that the loss-making Entertainment Centre will be converted unto a heritage museum, crafts centre, small conference centre and educational centre catering for school tours.

As soon as the council gets approval and funding to build its new indoor heated pool, the plan envisages turning the existing outdoor pool at the Entertainment Centre into a ‘wet dock’ for a small boat display.

Already the brainchild of Arklow Enterprise Centre, has received approval in principle from the local council which owns the Entertainment Centre complex.

But with Town Hall officials now considering leasing out all the leisure facilities at Seaview Avenue to a private promoter.

Arklow Enterprise Centre has to sit down with the council to discuss the handing over of the Entertainment Centre to a new community based company to be set up to run the maritime park project.