5.3.2 The Outer City Landscape

The city’s suburban areas (from the canals to the M50 corridor) are well serviced by the provision of public open space, however the key issue is the quality of these parks. Many were provided during the surge in suburban expansion from the 1950s with the provision of space for parks but with minimal input of design and facilities. The strategy addresses this, with the intended upgrading of parks from Community Grade 2 to Grade 1, with the intention of providing existing parks with a balanced provision of active and passive recreational facilities. In addition, a select number of Community Grade 1 parks shall be brought to Flagship standard.

While the quantum of open space available to suburban dwellers is larger than that for those in the inner-city, it is not proposed to reduce it beyond the range of 2.5-3.6ha per 1000 persons given in this strategy, as future population growth will largely rely on the current provision.

The provision of open space differs in the southeast area in that there is significantly less public open space and more private provision in the form of privately owned parks/squares and recreational grounds. For the longterm protection of these spaces from development, the use of appropriate zoning and the transfer of privately owned lands to public ownership may be considered

The outer city landscape also contains some remaining historic properties that may be worthy of conservation. Typically these historical holdings have been broken up for development with only fragments remaining. Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council’s recent acquisition of Fernhill house and gardens with its celebrated Robisonian-style landscape is a commendable example of direct conservation intervention.

In the city administrative area, an example requiring further investigation is the intact 17th century house and garden landscape called Woodlands, located in Clonshaugh. The architectural design has been attributed to the architect Edward Lovett Pearce (1699-1733). The house together, with a glasshouse located on the grounds, are protected structures. The threat of impact lies in the expansion of an adjacent industrial estate and road corridor proposals through the property’s core historic landscape. The conservation of this property and others remaining in the administrative areas requires proactive study so that those of unique value to the city are identified and protected into the future.