Project team appointed to formulate master plan for Mayo lake amenity
Mayo County Council has appointed a project team, ACT, to formulate a master plan for the Lough Lannagh amenity in Castlebar.
They were selected for the task following a competitive tender process.
The master plan will guide how the location will develop over the coming years.
It will provide a clear vision for improving the area as a recreational, ecological and community space.
The plan will also strengthen Lough Lannagh’s role as an important part of Castlebar’s town centre, helping to link the park more closely with nearby facilities and activities.
The aim of the initiative is to set out a long-term direction that balances different needs within the park.
These include recreation, accessibility, nature protection, heritage, and overall appearance.
The area is used by many different groups, and demand for space will continue to rise.
The plan will look at how these uses can work together in a coordinated way.
It will identify where new or improved facilities could go, how people will move around the park more easily, and how signage, pathways and public spaces can be made more consistent and attractive.
It will also look at ways to protect and enhance important natural and heritage features, including the area around Bourke Castle.
To prepare the master plan, the project team will begin by building a full picture of how the park currently works.
This will involve reviewing the layout of the park, its landscape and ecology, how people use it, and what issues or opportunities exist.
A digital model and environmental assessments will be completed, and existing local and national policies will be considered to make sure the plan fits within wider strategies.
Once this information is gathered, it will be used to identify key priorities and to shape early ideas for the future layout and design of the park.
These ideas will then be developed into detailed proposals, including maps, illustrations and draft policies for how the park will be managed.
The final master plan will include a clear, phased roadmap showing what projects should happen first, how much they may cost and what funding options may be available.
This process will ensure that the final document will be practical, coordinated and ready to support future investment decisions.
A major part of this work will be public and stakeholder engagement.
A series of workshop sessions will be held to involve the community and user groups directly in shaping the plan.
The first workshops will focus on understanding how the park is currently used and what people value about it.
Later workshops will present early ideas and will invite participants to give their views on what should be included in the future plan.
A final round of engagement will focus on how the proposed improvements can realistically be delivered.
These sessions will involve local residents, youth and community groups, sporting and recreational clubs, Castlebar Tidy Towns and Community Clean Up Group, relevant statutory organisations and council departments.
All engagement activities will follow the principles of inclusion and equal participation, which will ensure that the final plan reflects a wide range of perspectives and local knowledge.