Dublin has a proud heritage of parks. The City Council is very conscious of this heritage and the value of our network of green spaces and urban trees for the physical and mental health and well being of its citizens providing as it does opportunity for rest, relaxation and recreation.
Even within the heart of the City there are small oases of green space. It is our intention to identify opportunities for ‘greening’ other urban spaces to enhance biodiversity and the liveability of the City.
Our objective is to ensure that all citizens of the City have reasonable and proximate access to quality open space, nature, play and recreational facilities. For this purpose we will implement an Open Space Strategy to identify deficiencies in provision and prepare a phased programme of improvements.
For those working and visiting the City we will also seek to achieve excellence in horticulture and the general presentation of our historic Parks and squares and consider opportunities for improving visitor facilities. The decoration of the City and animation of spaces is an important role for the Parks Service.
Free guided walks in the Dublin Mountains
Each month The Dublin Mountains Partnership run up to four free guided walks in the Dublin Mountains. The Dublin Mountains Partnership or DMP was set up in May 2008 with the ultimate aim of improving the recreational experience for users of the Dublin Mountains, whilst recognising the objectives and constraints of its various landowners.
The partner organisations involved are Coillte, South Dublin County Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Dublin City Council, National Parks and Wildlife Services and the Dublin Mountains Initiative, an umbrella group representing the recreation users of the Dublin Mountains.
The establishment of the DMP addresses the key need to manage the area as an integrated entity and also provides for commitments on funding and resources to underpin the DMP’s work. While the long term strategy is to manage recreation in the Dublin Mountains on a more sustainable basis, the DMP’s Action Plan is already underway. Work has commenced on a range of other initiatives including the provision of new and upgraded trails, improved signage and the preparation of a custom DMP map.
Their free guided walks are lead by DMP Volunteer Rangers and are for all abilities. A beginners hike would be 4km hike to the Hell Fire Club, a moderate walk would be 10kms from Tibradden to Fairy Castle and a strenuous walk would be 15kms to the highest point in the Dublin Mountains, Seahan at 647M. They advise people to wear walking boots and bring waterproof clothing. To book your place on a walk please go to their website www.dublinmountains.ie
Opening of St. Anne's Dog Park - 24th February 2013
Dublin City Council in association with the DSPCA are proud to announce the opening of the new St. Anne's Dog Park Raheny. Join us on Sunday February 24th from 1pm-3pm for the official opening. Fun for all the family! Admission is free. For full details please click here
Biodiversity in Dublin City
The biodiversity of Dublin's wildlife is all around us, and many of Dublin City's parks have international importance for their fauna and their habitats. Click here to link to the Podcast Tour of Dublin (available on www.rte.ie). The podcasts are an easy way to find out more about this while you are out in our parks.
Lennox Street Trees
To see report submitted by Parks Division to the South East Area Committee please click here, to see the map which accompanied this report, outlining locations of proposed tree works, please click here.
To see power point presentation by Parks Division on the proposed works please click here. You can also view to the independent Tree Survey and recommendations.
Slí na Sláinte Trail
The newest Slí na Sláinte Trail for Dublin City was launched by the Lord Mayor on 28 November 2012 with Dr. Brian McCraith, President of Dublin City University and Barry Dempsey, CEO, Irish Heart Foundation. This is a joint initiative of Dublin City Council and Dublin City University with the Irish Heart Foundation which links the park and the DCU campus in a 3.5 km exercise route.
Download the leaflet and find out more.
Ringsend Park, Sean Moore Park and Poolbeg Lighthouse Sli na Slainte routes were recently launched in Ringsend Park. Ringsend Park is a 1.1km circuit, Sean Moore P{ark is 1.2km circuit and Poolbeg Lighthouse is 10.2 circuit. Please click here to download brochure.
National Tree Week 2013
Tree Week 2013 was held on 3rd- 9th March this year, with the theme ‘A Feast of Trees’. Each year Parks and Landscape Services gets involved with local schools to carry out tree planting events. Approximately 360 children from 18 schools across the city had a chance to get out and plant trees with our staff this March.
You can learn about Ireland’s native trees by following one of our Native Tree Trails. They are located in Bushy Park, Terenure, Markievicz Park, Ballyfermot , Poppintree Park, Ballymun, Albert College Park, Ballymun Road, Johnstown Park, Finglas, Herbert Park, Ballsbridge and Saint Anne’s Park, Raheny. Click here for more details.
For more information on Tree Week please visit www.treecouncil.ie or contact Sean Redmond, Parks and Landscape Services at sean.redmond@dublincity.ie Tel: 222 3435.
Parks Update
St. Anne's boasts the biggest Rose Garden in Ireland with approximately 10 acres of display borders, the centre of rose growing in Ireland.
The festival aims to promote the history of the rose gardens while offering gardeners an opportunity to shop and browse stalls and exhibits whilst being inspired by the plants and flowers around them. A real garden party with music and events for children and adults and all completely free of charge.
Tag Rugby training in Dublin City Parks
TAG Rugby has become very popular in recent years and there are now a large number of teams who have registered, paid and participate in spring and summer leagues run by the Irish Tag Rugby Association (ITRA) and the IRFU. Some league fixtures are based in Herbert Park and Bushy Park, parks managed by Dublin City Council.
Tag rugby players have been training primarily in public parks and issues have arisen from the increased use of Herbert and Bushy Parks for training. The resolution to these issues lies in better communication and understanding between the City Council, Tag rugby participants and the governing organisations.
There are a wide range of sporting interests which use the Parks in the City for organised activities. The number of requests is such that the use of active recreation areas has to be controlled by way of a formal allocation or permit. This enables the City Council firstly to ensure that satisfactory insurance cover is in place, secondly to manage playing fields to ensure that a good grass sward is maintained in the interest of all sports and thirdly to ensure that sports activities do not excessively impact on the rest/relaxation/ recreation of other park users.
Consequently, all local sports clubs are formally allocated playing pitches, and commercial activities such as fitness groups, boot camps etc are facilitated by way of a permit to use the City Parks.
On a number of occasions large numbers of TAG rugby participants have arrived at either Herbert or Bushy parks almost simultaneously and in an apparent coordinated manner. Such occurrences are considered to be ‘organised’ and as such require a formal allocation or permit.
If significant numbers of people arrive in a Park in a coordinated manner the Parks Ranger/supervisor will seek identification and evidence of their allocation/permit. Equally, if ground conditions are unsuitable the use of playing fields is at the discretion of the Park Ranger/supervisor.
In order to minimise the pressure on the use of Herbert and Bushy Parks, the City Council would encourage TAG players to consider using other parks in the City or suburbs and not to congregate in significant numbers in one park.
Dublin City Council are continuing to support the sport of TAG rugby and are supplying pitches in both Herbert Park and Bushy Park, some of the city’s busiest parks, for summer league fixtures in 2012.
If you have any queries on this or require more information please contact parks@dublincity.ie
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Outside Hours Park Warden Service |
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MANGUARD Plus will provide a Park Warden Service in city parks outside the normal parks staffing hours only up until the parks close to the public. The public can contact them on telephone number 0818 313 300, which is a city-wide emergency number. This is a 7 day service, however, it is not a 24 hour service. |
Fairview Park Improvements 2012
Following the public consultation process carried out in 2010, and completion of the design, Dublin City Council Parks and Landscape Services, through consultants of Brady, Shipman, Martin, contracted McAvoy Contracts Ltd, to carry out the supply and installation of the project.
The playground and play facilities associated with the project are available for use from Park opening time on 14th July 2012
Please Click here for more details
ECO-UNESCO Green Trails of Dublin
For full details please click here or visit http://www.ecounesco.ie/
Planning Guidelines for Landscape Works and ‘Taking in Charge’ of Public Open Space
The Parks and Landscapes Services Division of Dublin City Council have issued general guidelines for the development of open space to ensure quality standards are met. Persons preparing planning applications, including landscape professionals, should be aware of the specific European and national standards relating to open space and landscape development works. Read the guidelines.
Find out about the International Peace Garden Foundation
The International Peace Garden Foundation is a nonprofit organization, established to advance global friendship and international understanding through the creation of peace gardens and cultural exchange programs. Visit the International Peace Garden Foundation website.
Find a playground
Click here for a list of playgrounds in Dublin City Parks