4.2.3 All Weather Pitch and Training facilities

There is an increasing demand for all-weather facilities for training and indeed league matches. The development of synthetic surfaces is improving the ability of such surfaces to simulate natural grass . They increase the frequency of use for games and reduce the wear and tear on grass pitches, which would otherwise be used for training. There is significant investment required to plan for all-weather facilities and the City Council has an obligation to ensure that any such investment on its lands is sustainable both in terms of the community use and financing the on-going maintenance and renewal of such facilities.

Retro-fitting all weather pitches into existing parks is problematic as these facilities are fenced and so parts of the public open space are isolated soley for the use of football clubs (which are often the most vocal of the representative groups that use a park). This may exclude those who value the open and green nature of a public park for informal play, walking, rest and relaxation and general passive recreation.

All weather pitches also require careful planning with regard to flood light spill onto residential areas, provision for changing room and storage facilities and car parking

To achieve suitable accessibility Parks Services will be guided by sports governing bodies, such as the GAA and FAI to identify the locations in the city that they consider the most appropriate for the development of shared all-weather and training facilities which will then be available to local clubs to utilise. Partnerships with schools and other institutions/organisations will also be considered to develop sustainable community all weather facilities that will not deplete the available greenspace in any particular part of the city.