1.1 Introduction
One of the major contributory elements to the ‘liveability’ of a city is the quality and quantity of parks and open space. The city landscape, being the accumulation of our entire open spaces, gardens and trees canopy, is a precious asset to Dublin, which is not entirely quantifiable, particularly in economic terms. City parks and landscapes are important for numerous reasons; environmental, cultural, historic, community and economic.
The landscape is the living component of the city, it is dynamic in itself and as a result of the influences and changes occurring in the city, such as population growth.
It is a valuable asset, providing a living link to our past through the eras of city development. Our parks and open spaces express the evolution of landscape design in the city from Georgian square parks to contemporary parks with contemporary themes, such as at Fr Collins Park or Grand Canal Dock. They facilitate the concentration of life that is found in the city, creating the spaces for nature to live alongside man while also providing the spaces of respite for man to live and enjoy the city.
Now more than ever, after a period of intense urban growth and development during the Celtic Tiger boom years, it is time to reflect on what makes Dublin city’s parks and landscape unique and inspiring and how they should be guided into the future.
The strategy examines the resources, facilities and services that are available to residents and visitors and how the current provision can be improved. The community’s view has been fundamental in the formulation of this strategy through public engagement and consultation and will continue to inform and develop the services and resources offered by Dublin City Council’s Parks and Landscape Services.
The Dublin City Parks Strategy is the first of its kind for the city. It is envisioned that this document will guide Parks and Landscape Service’s delivery of service over the coming years and will evolve with updated versions in the future. The Strategy’s policies aim to further connect people and communities with parks, advance greening, biodiversity and environmental sustainability, improve the provision of parks and facilities, foster innovation and create a legacy for future generations to enjoy
“The more successfully a city mingles everyday diversity of uses and users in its everyday streets, the more successfully, casually (and economically) its people thereby enliven and support well-located parks that can thus give back grace and delight to their neighborhoods instead of vacuity”
– Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of
Great American Cities