6 Implementation

The implementation of actions described in the strategy will be undertaken over short-term (1-5 years), medium-term (5-10 years) and long-term (over 10 years). While it is desirable to complete actions within the stated time periods, constraints such as financing, changes to strategy and necessary approvals for actions may affect actual delivery.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

Policy

  • To support and promote volunteering to realise public goodwill and enhance engagement with the community in their local environment. •
  • To enhance information availability on park services and resources through contemporary media and digital devices. 
  • To provide good interpretation and wayfinding for park visitors to enhance their experience and knowledge of park resources.

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

To study the feasibility of establishing a Dublin Parks Volunteer Programme. S    
To further develop smartphone multi-lingual guides for artworks located in Merrion Square Park. S    
To develop multi-lingual digital guides to historic parks. S M  
To develop a parks information portal in cooperation with adjacent Dublin local authorities and the OPW. S    
To coordinate orientation for visitors and develop a Park Wayfinding System. S M  
To coordinate orientation for visitors and develop a Park Wayfinding System. S    

 

RESOURCES AND SERVICES

Parks

Policy

  • Parks Services’ objective is to plan, design, maintain and manage the city parks resource to best serve the recreational, cultural, economic, environmental and social needs of Dublin.

Flagship Parks

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

To prepare management plans for all designated flagship parks under the management of the City Council. S    

North Bull Island:

     
To implement planned traffic management solutions for access to the island. S M  
To construct a new visitor centre subject to planning approval.   M L

Father Collins Park:

     
To prepare a park management plan to include adjoining recreational lands. S    

St Anne’s Park:

     
To develop a destination playground.   M  
To obtain ideas for the area of the original mansion. S    
To restore the range of follies that form part of the historic estate landscape. S    
To assess the potential of the park as a sculpture park. S M  
To implement plans for the Red Stables to enhance it as a visitor centre. S    

St Patrick’s Park:

     
To implement actions arising from the conservation and management study of the park. S    

Merrion Square Park:

     
To implement the park’s conservation plan including upgrading perimeter paths and seating in sympathy with the original Georgian-era park character. S    
To construct a park tea room in sympathy with the historic landscape character. S    
To interpret the historic park and artwork within, in particular to exploit the use of digital media for interpretation. S M  

 

Community Parks

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

To prepare management plans for all designated Community Grade 1 parks   M L

 

Greenways

Policy

  • Parks Services will support and promote the planning and implementation of Greenways as shared spaces for pedestrians and cyclists within the park.

Quantity of Parks

Policy

  • Dublin City Council will maintain a provision of between 2.5 and 3.6ha of parks per 1000 population in its administrative area. This accommodates the existing provision while allowing for expected future population growth.

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

To undertake a study into facilitating public access and the provision of new parks between the canals to service this area of high population density and to contribute to the identity of Dublin as a City of Literature. S    

 

Quality of Parks

Policy

  • Park Services will continue to work towards improving the quality of its parks to ensure that all citizens have access to a quality park in their neighbourhood and will deploy the Green Flag award scheme to assist in achieving a recognised quality standard.

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

To carry out selected Green Flag assessments annually for each of the council administrative areas. S    
To carry out a full assessment of all Flagship and Community Grade 1 Parks, subject to resource availability, within the next five years.   M  
To upgrade specific Community Grade 2 parks to Grade 1 parks in management areas with a higher proportion of Grade 2 parks, as follows:      
North West Area: Kildonan Park   M  
South Central Area: Ballyfermot Civic Centre Park & Cherry Orchard Park   M  

 

Access to Parks

Policy

  • To maintain a hierarchy of parks within reasonable access of the residents of Dublin.

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

To improve access to Flagship Parks by the upgrading of community parks to flagship status as follows:      
Central Area: Mountjoy Square Park S    
North West Area: Albert College Park   M  
To seek public access to Fitzwilliam Square Park S M  

 

Parks and Recreation

Policy

  • Dublin City Council will continue to provide and maintain a range of recreational opportunities within its parks and work with governing bodies of sport and activities to strategically plan development of facilities without impact on passive uses or character of particular parks or open spaces. 
  • To ensure that any future all-weather facilities are available to as wide a range of sports as possible in the local community , that local schools have access during the day and early evening and that all the users of the facility contribute to a fund that will cover the cost of renewal of the facility at the end of its efficient use period, e.g. 10 to 12 years for a synthetic surface.

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

To provide, where possible, park perimeter paths and paths between interconnecting parks to develop accessible walking/jogging routes. S M L
To assess the potential of provision of new all-weather pitch facilities within the canals area and the Terenure area, in particular where opportunities of new open space provision arise. S M  
To provide a new playing pitch as part of the St. Teresa’s Gardens redevelopment. S    
To identify opportunities to partner with schools within the canals area to develop community training facilities, particularly in the South Central Area. S    
To prepare an audit of playing fields to ensure that the quality and maintenance is in accordance with best practice to maximise use.   M  
To enhance tennis facilities at Rockfield Park, Bushy Park and Herbert Park. S M  
To develop a policy for managing and signing cycling in parks so as to better manage the conflict between cyclists and other park users. S    
To assess the potential of new beach volleyball sites in coastal parks/beaches. S M  
To provide for new skateparks city-wide, commencing with LeFanu Park in Ballyfermot in 2019. S M  

 

Parks and Play

Policy

  • The City Council will continue to maintain and upgrade existing playgrounds and improve access to play for all children of Dublin City with a priority on current areas lacking provision but having a high population of children. 
  • To provide for new destination playgrounds in the North West, South Central, South East and City Centre. 
  • To assess the potential of provision of natural play through out the city to compliment the fixed playground resource.

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

To address deficit in provision of playgrounds and to prioritise their provision based on areas with higher population of children. The following locations will be assessed for the provision of new facilities:      

North Central Area:

     
Belmayne (New playground to be provided under new residential development) S    
Kilbarrack S    
Coolock S    
Marino North   M  
Clontarf   M  

South East Area:

     
Sandymount S    

 

Park Visitor Facilities

Policy

  • Visitor facilities will be developed and provided in parks and in particular flagship parks, where there is sufficient footfall to enhance their appeal and enjoyment. 
  • The provision of cafés/tea rooms and restaurants (with public toilets) will be promoted and expanded following consideration of their commercial viability and character of the receiving park. 
  • No internal public parking will be provided within inner-city parks. Parking within parks in other areas will be considered in exceptional circumstances and where needed priority will be given to disabled carparking and family carparking. Cycle parking will be facilitated internally in most parks. 
  • The provision of toilets will be considered within parks as part of other built facilities where active management & monitoring is present.

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

New tea room facilities are to be provided in Merrion Square Park & Bushy Park and are under consideration for Blessington Street Basin Fairview Park and Palmerston park. S M  
Bicycle parking facilities will be provided for at all inner-city parks. S M  

 

Park Management

Policy

  • Parks Services maintain standard opening times for their enclosed parks and allow access at alternative times, such as for events, on a case by case basis. 
  • The City Council encourages use of public spaces, including its parks, by responsible dog owners. It will continue to seek and provide initiatives to encourage responsibility and enjoyment of these spaces and seeks the cooperation of dog owners to ensure other park users do not feel hindered by dogs in parks. 
  • Parks Services will continue to work towards the vision of a pesticide-free park system by monitoring and minimising its use of chemical pesticides and seeking alternatives to them.

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

Parks Services will review current Bye Laws with regards to contemporary urban living. S M  

 

Natural Areas and Biodiversity

Policy

  • To ensure parks management practices prioritise the protection of habitats for threatened species and for protection of rare species and habitats in our parks. 
  • To protect genetic biodiversity by planting only native species of Irish provenance (where available) in areas of high ecological importance, including river corridors and coastal habitats. 
  • To manage our parks, open spaces and cemeteries as a connected network of green infrastructure that provides habitats of international importance for protected species and sustains ecosystems. 
  • Biodiversity initiatives which are specific to the protected habitats and species will be developed for all public green spaces that are hubs supporting core areas. These will be prepared with reference to the management plans for the core areas. 
  • To ensure that corridors are maintained throughout DCC administrative area as continuous elements of green infrastructure to afford passage for wildlife and prevent severance of habitats by ‘grey’ infrastructure. To work to restore connectivity of corridors where insensitive development has taken place previously or where there are opportunities to work cooperatively with landowners to promote this. 
  • To continue to work to enable NGO’s to implement national strategies for nature conservation through public parks and open spaces. 
  • To develop the educational resources of Dublin City parks to promote sustainability and biodiversity through providing facilities for the public to use, making information about parks freely accessible online and through organisation of formal and informal activities through Parks staff. 
  • Dublin City Council will, in association with its partners, assist with achieving the goals of conservation, learning and development of the Dublin Bay UNESCO Biosphere.

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

To ensure that management plans are prepared and implemented for the Natura 2000 sites with reference to other relevant statutory bodies. S M  
To implement the Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan (2015-2020). To renew and update the Biodiversity action plan in 2019. S    
To implement Dublin City Invasive Alien Species Action Plan (2015–2020). S M  
Development of a Biosphere Conservation Programme, Research Strategy, Business Development Plan and Education and Awareness Programme for the Dublin Bay UNESCO Biosphere. S    

 

Public Realm

Policy

  • Parks Services will help to provide for the implementation of The Heart of Dublin, City Centre Public Realm Masterplan (2016) with particular emphasis on the role of parks, city greening and biodiversity. 
  • Given the current lower provision of public open space per person in the inner-city area, particular emphasis will be put on creating a quality public realm that displays the virtues of parks. 
  • Parks Services will realise opportunities for greening in the Liberties and North East Inner City Area.

Public Housing

Policy

  • Public housing landscape provision should be of a good quality and provide both private residential space as well as community orientated space. •
  • Consultation with the residential community on landscape proposals shall be sought where existing housing estates are refurbished.
  • Design of public housing landscape should aim to encourage provision of playgrounds into locally accessible parks rather than solely within the boundary of the housing, so as to encourage integration and connection with the wider community. 
  • Public housing landscape design shall be innovative and look to incorporating community gardens /allotments, sustainable urban drainage systems, green roofing, home zones and public art.

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

To implement a new community park in the redevelopment of St Teresa’s Gardens. S    

 

Cemeteries

Policy

  • To manage and maintain historical graveyards to enhance their historical and cultural significance to Dublin, while maintaining the dignity of these burial places.

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

To develop appropriate forms of interpretation to encourage better understanding of historical graveyards and assist research of cemeteries S M  
To consider the provision of columbarium walls in burial grounds. S    

 

City Trees

Policy

  • To promote the policies of the Dublin City Tree Strategy to protect, maintain and enhance the city’s urban forest. 
  • Parks Services will support the conservation of the city’s arboreta and their role in education, research and culture. 
  • Parks Services will promote tree knowledge and appreciation among the public with particular emphasis on engaging with children. 
  • Parks Services recognise that Champion trees and Heritage trees are of significance and will therefore give due consideration in favour of their protection if the potential of impact from development arises.

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

To carry out actions of the City Tree Strategy. S M  
To enhance the St Anne’s arboretum through use of interpretation. S    

 

Civic Decoration

Policy

  • Parks Services recognise the importance of civic and seasonal decoration to the city and continue to provide and maintain this resource.

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

To produce a Civic Decoration Plan in consultation with local community and business groups on possible enhancement opportunities in the city centre. It would also look at ways that civic decoration can be incorporated into unique themes defining particular areas of the city or particular events. S M  

 

Allotments and Community Gardens

Policy

  • To make provision of allotments for the benefit of local communities subject to existing or anticipated demand for such facilities and to enhance the coordination and management of allotments on a city-wide basis.

Planning and Development Control

Policy

  • Parks Services will continue to assist the provision of a sustainable green city through the planning and development control system, with particular focus on achieving a balance between development and conservation. Emphasis will be placed on conservation of trees, historic designed landscapes, natural and built heritage and recreation including playing fields. While the continued development of the city poses challenges, it also contributes to the provision of new public space, the enhancement of existing parks and the supply of better recreational facilities.

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

Parks Services will update current guidelines (Guidelines for Open Space Development and Taking in Charge) to planning applicants for submission of landscape proposals (including open space, biodiversity and arboriculture aspects). Coordination with the adjacent councils (Fingal County Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council & South Dublin County Council) will be sought. S    
Parks Services will prepare guidelines on green buildings/structures to encourage greening within city development. S    
Parks Services will investigate St Anne’s Park for suitability as a designated Landscape Conservation Area. S    

 

Art in Parks

Policy

  • Art within the City Council’s parks is important, welcome and encouraged. Donations and commissioning of artwork and their positioning within parks requires careful consideration and is therefore controlled. 
  • It is the intention to distribute artwork more evenly throughout the Council’s parks and to review the concentration of art in Merrion Square Park. 
  • In order to maintain the quality of landscape character in Dublin’s historic parks, strict control is practiced on temporary art, memorials and events. In all cases, written approval is required with a stated commencement and conclusion date. 
  • Parks Services will continue to support the Artist in Residence scheme and seek further opportunities to provide new premises for artists within parks subject to demand and availability.

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

To update the Art in Parks guide on a regular basis, to explore the possibility of introducing versions in other languages for visitors and to look at methods to link the guide with mobile technology S M  
To carry out a feasibility study into the creation of a Dublin City Sculpture Park. S    
To host an art symposium focused on parks and the public realm. S    

 

Research

Policy

  • Parks Services will continue to commission and use research that directly contributes to their role in planning, designing, implementing and managing its resources. In addition, it supports access to its resources by research organisations and individuals undertaking their own research studies.

Action

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

To undertake research on the following subjects:      
Park visitor numbers. S M  
Economic value of parks. S    
Street tree planting techniques including SuDS. S M L
Biodiversity. S M  
Public attitudes. S    
City Green Plan. S   L

 

CITY LANDSCAPE VISION

Policy

  • Parks Services will promote a Dublin Bay Greenway (former S2S) continuous green coastal corridor along Dublin Bay • Parks Services will promote the greening and sense of identity at city entry points and routes. 
  • Parks Services will proactively review the city landscape to determine historic or culturally relevant landscapes for conservation. 
  • Parks Services will seek the appropriate development, conservation and management of the city waterways, which are an asset to Dublin’s landscape. Where required, cooperation with relevant management authorities, such as Waterways Ireland, will be sought.
  • Parks Services will seek to unearth culverted watercourses, where feasible and appropriate, in an effort to improve the natural environment and create landscape linkage along such corridors.

Actions

Short-Term

Medium-Term

Long-Term

To assist in the preparation of a Dublin Coast Landscape Plan with other partners to enhance recreation, greening, biodiversity and green transportation. S M  
To initiate discussion on the potential of enhancing M50 junctions and canal bridges with partners to act as thresholds to the city. S M  
To initiate discussion on the potential of a port greening plan with Dublin Port to enhance greening and identity of arrival and departure by sea. S M  
To initiate discussion on the potential of an airport environs greening plan with relevant authorities to enhance greening and identity of arrival & departure by air. S M  
Parks Services will support a conservation study of Woodlands house and landscape to determine its significance and conservation value. S    
Park Services will prepare City Historic Landscape Audit of natural and built heritage to record previously existing and remaining landscapes. S M