Pressure on for a public obstacle course amenity to be developed in Kildare

Kildare County Council is being asked to develop an obstacle-course type of amenity.

Newbridge-based councillor Chris Pender requested KCC to “support the development of a dedicated parkour facility” somewhere in the county.

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Parkour is a type of athletic training, which is also known as “free running” and could be loosely described as an outdoor gym.

It is a form of physical training in which those taking part move through an environment as efficiently as they can using only their bodies to overcome a variety of obstacles. This is done by running, jumping, climbing and vaulting.

The idea is to move from one point to another as fast as possible, often in an urban location.

The activity helps develop physical fitness and  spatial awareness as well as  mental resilience. 

Cllr Pender has asked KCC to  identify a suitable location through engagement with young people and  community groups. He also wants it to conduct a “short feasibility process” to confirm design, cost, and delivery - and “engage with specialist providers to ensure quality, value for money and a clear timeline for public consultation and delivery.”

He said he accepted that space is limited “but we should provide as much as possible for young people” adding that  a parkour "would be pretty easy to deliver” and could be provided at facilities which are being considered by KCC.

There is broad support among Kildare's councillors.

But KCC official Celina Barrett said  demand for the facility has not “come up in consultation with the community.” 

Nevertheless she said there is no objection in principle to providing a parkour facility in the county. 

“The work required to fulfil the feasibility and possible locations can be considered (next year).”

But any project would have to “take account of an extensive list of existing commitments across the county and the staff resources to deliver these.”

She also said timelines for engagement with young people, community groups and delivery “will have to be considered later, subject to staff and financial resources.”