Increasing Demand for Playing Fields

Increasing Demand for Playing Fields

Dublin City Council is experiencing increasing demand from clubs for more playing fields, however there is little spare capacity on existing pitches and  there is little likelihood of new playing fields being achieved through the planning process as residential development in the city are now almost exclusively high density on relatively small sites. 

Historically, in the 1960/70’s/80’s when open spaces were being planned in the city suburbs (outside the canals), 10% of the site area was required to provide green space (public open space) and in most cases the landscape design was minimised in favour of levelling the open space to create playing fields and kickabout space. Today public open space in any new development is planned for a more diverse range of habitat for biodiversity other than amenity grassland and open spaces now incorporate sustainable drainage swales and other such features. This combination of factors inevitably means that space for active recreation and playing fields is not being achieved through the development control planning process.

There are also other factors which impact on the availability and usability of recreation grounds. The increase in rainfall and pluvial flooding events due to climate change are impacting on the usability of pitches. The predominant soil type in Dublin is boulder clay which is susceptible to water retention and saturation. In response the Parks Service is increasing the resources allocated to pitch maintenance and de-compaction, however, inevitably many weeks of play can be lost over the winter period due to matches called off.

Based on population growth, the assumption that more people are playing sport, people are playing to a later age in life and female participation is increasing, the demand for playing fields will increase. While the 2022 – 2028 Dublin City Development Plan provides increased protection of existing and established sport and recreational facilities in the city (Policy GI49 refers) if the quantity of playing fields is to increase this can only be achieved by gaining access to under-utilised recreational grounds in the City or acquisition of lands outside of the City. 

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