10.1 Introduction

A green city is a healthy city. Protecting and enhancing open spaces for both biodiversity and recreational use has benefits for the city’s sustainability and attractiveness as a place to live, work and visit.

As Dublin city intensifies and consolidates some natural assets, open spaces and recreational areas may come under increased pressure. The City Council must respond by balancing the need of the city to consolidate with the need to protect and enhance vulnerable natural areas.

It is important to pursue a green infrastructure approach to ensure a sustainable city. Dublin city will seek more sustainable forms of development and encourage approaches which effectively work with nature.

A coherent plan for the future recreation and open space needs of citizens that at the same time ensures the adequate protection of natural assets including open spaces, landscapes and biodiverse areas is essential in creating a clean, green, well-connected city.