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THE REDEVELOPMENT OF a derelict site in Dublin city into a public park has moved a step closer after Dublin City Council (DCC) objected against its sale and unanimously supported the proposal.
The motion, which was passed in the name of Sinn Féin councillor Críona Ní Dhálaigh and seconded by Labour’s Rebecca Moynihan, backs the proposal of turning the idle land – located between Cork Street and Chamber Street – into a recreation area for the residents of Dublin 8.
Dublin City Manager, Owen Keegan, had initiated the process to dispose of the site but the strong opposition from the chamber will now ensure the 1.2 acre site remains in the council’s possession.
Rezoning
A final decision on the rezoning of the land will be made in early 2014 when the council reconvenes and the necessary capital is secured. Councillor Moynihan has negotiated an initial budget of €75,000 for the development of recreational facilities in the South West Inner City but additional funds are expected to be required.
“There is still substantial work to do yet, but this is a big stepping stone. Our initial goal was to halt the sale of the site and now that that’s been achieved, we’re confident of getting the desired result,” Councillor Moynihan admitted.
Now is the council’s perfect opportunity to reverse some of the appalling damage done by developers over the past few decades with the Dublin 8 vicinity representing a concrete jungle and in dire need of a public amenity.
It’s claimed that initially there had been an invitation for expressions of interest for purchase and development of the site without the support of the chamber. The tender document asked potential developers to include an area for public use in their application.
The City Manager has now acknowledged the council’s stance and conceded the site won’t be sold contrary to original plans. “We won’t be proceeding with the disposal at this stage,” Keegan confirmed.
Report expected by February
While there is no exact timeline for the rezoning of the site, a report is expected to be presented to the council by February at the latest. Before compiling his recommendations, Keegan will factor in the suitability of the site for such a development and the overall cost to the council.
DCC have never fully financed the construction of a permanent public park without the support of private funding or schemes such as the National Lottery grants.
Over 1,000 residents have signed an online petition in an attempt to highlight their need for a recreational facility. Furthermore, several social media driven campaigns are now underway to try and convince the DCC that the investment would be a long-term strategic asset for the community.
“This area is one of the most deprived in our capital and an investment like this would have huge social and economic benefits for the wider community. Land is finite and to sell an invaluable resource when there is a desperate need for green space is a short-term vision,” Moynihan argued.
Safe and healthy environment needed
The acreage in question lies between Cork and Chamber Street and has been in the hands of DCC since the demolition of the council flats in November 2008. Its location on one of the principal arterial routes in and out of Dublin City adds to its significant value.
According to Central Statistics Office figures, there are 2,000 children under the age of eighteen without access to a safe and healthy environment for social recreation in the South West Inner City.
Colin Farmer, who has lived in the area for nearly a decade, is behind the ‘Cork Street Park’ campaign and admitted the area has experienced anti-social behaviour and hardship in recent years because of its lack of facilities.
This video shows a weekend of family activity held on the site in question in September this year (watch from 2:05). Via OutdoorCommunity.ie/Youtube.
“Since moving here, I’ve been struck down by the lack of green space available and the issue is compounded by the signs prohibiting children to play ball in the housing development’s commons areas,” he explained.
Welcome haven
“Cork Street, in particular, resembles a dual carriageway and having a park will provide a welcome haven for residents. Additionally, a community is built on social interaction and a public area would facilitate and encourage this.”
The high density housing district in Dublin 8 falls under the Liberties Local Area Plan, which aims to achieve social, economic and physical regeneration. However, other social issues have taken precedence in recent years.
The Dublin City Parks Department is responsible for the management of the fifty-three public parks – covering 1,400 hectares – in the capital. The provision and maintenance of these recreational facilities are accommodated for in their annual budget but funds for similar projects have all been donated by external sources.
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The city manager’s pro-developer/anti-child stance here further highlights the need for a directly elected mayor.
This is the first time ever that I have seen local democracy actually achieving anything. Well done to the two councillors involved in tackling this.
Make parks, not war.
this is great news and well done to all involved. things are slowly shifting towards a people oriented city.
“our public spaces are as profound as we allow them to be”
Now how about the Irish Glass Bottle Site in Irishtown, would make a great sports facility ?
Its a great idea, parks and playgrounds are very much needed and welcomed but how long before its taken over by Zombies(poor drug addicts that have had this cruel life thrust upon them). The millennium park in blanch is a good example, there was security there for a time, the council cut them and the playground was vandalized. But again a very welcomed idea.
Same with Croppies Acre on the quays; security was let go and now it’s overrun with used needles etc. Shame in an area where there isn’t much green space!
Cork Street is an absolute disgrace. It was a developers dream come true, with high density high rise apartments with little or nothing contributed to public space. The street is like a wind tunnel and a 4 laned motorway combined. The historic low rise buildings along this car artery are desolate and run down. The only greenery is within the private and unseen walled gardens of the apartment complexes (because, you know, they could sell them for higher with a dull generic private garden) – leaving a whole street of bland nothingness.
Since the buildings are in place now, perhaps they could remove one of the lanes for cars and and devote it to the planting of trees and a nice dedicated cycle path into the city. It would give the street some structure and asthetic.
The park is to be welcomed but its a relatively small space and adds little to the overall disaster that is Cork Street and Dolphins Barn street in my opinion anyway. Give a lane of the road to the locals for goodness sake. Car-centricism is a tired ideology, and the urban space, and Cork street in particular, needs to be brought into the present as an asthetic ecological cycle route.
Great idea to turn one if the lanes into a tree-line. It’s much too wide a street – very difficult to cross it to get into the Coombe Hosp!
Is there a methadone place right beside there? Always lots of junkies around.
Great to give these families a play area for their children Why not use lottery funds for this recreational space instead of giving them to institutions to top up obscene salaries
Fair play Ryan for getting this information up on Journal.ie! Its nice to see the word spreading, because Colin and countless others have been working hard trying to get something done about the lack of a decent green space in our area. See what i mean here: http://www.frg.ie/local-news/map-showing-lack-of-green-spaces-and-public-parks-in-dublin-8/ The South East inner city has 14 times as much green space for their kids, as we do here in the South West inner city. Both areas have a similar population!
Regarding the could of negative comments about the area posted above…. thats exactly why locals want the area regenerated, it would create a different environment, and people will act differently within that environment. Surely Dublin 8 deserves that opportunity!
We got some more coverage about the Cork Street Park campaign here if anyone wants to read further: http://www.frg.ie/tag/cork-street/
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That’s what it looked like years ago, it was a very rundown place. I’m from the Liberties.
And someone should tell the person or people who created that video that Dubstep is not cool.
Das Ist Dublin 8: http://youtu.be/Dvm-2vr0s50 *
If the policing problem in Dublin is not addressed then I really don’t see the point in investing in an area that is completely over run with degenerates that ruin the city for everyone. It will be over run by these people in the same way that the board walk is now a no go area, the phoenix park is dangerous and the amazing Smithfield square is the playground of teenage gangs and drunks.
Im all for redevelopment but development that can actually be enjoyed and policed.
I’m from the area and I can’t see how having a park would increase the number of local “degenerates” as you call them. At the very worst, if they all ended up in there, the rest of the neighbourhood would benefit ;-)
If you would like to get involved or just keep up-to-date with our progress, you can find us here http://www.facebook.com/CorkStreetPark and on twitter @corkstreetpark.
Great news, the junkies will have a place to hang out, get them away from the car meets up the back streets in the area…..wonder will the Council will start enforcing the law regarding illegal on street parking on the adjoing streets, on double yellow lines even! Would help if the law was seen to be done in this regard.. The area is like the wild west even leaving out the junkies Don’t know if I’d leave a kid of mine head to, hang around a park in the area as it currently is.
They need to put the junkies into a treatment centre in the middle of no ware lock them up till they are of it and no visitors or any of that carry on. And get them treatment centres away from city centre altogether.
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That’s what it looked like years ago, it was a very rundown place. I’m from the Liberties.
And someone should tell the person who created that video that Dubstep is not cool.
Das Ist Dublin 8: http://youtu.be/Dvm-2vr0s50 *
We need to address problems of junkies etc with long term thinking. Subsidised crèche care for everyone. Properly resourced truancy officers and properly resourced social services intervention. Otherwise we will continue to see generation after generation of these problems. A few developer’s heads on spikes over Dublin Castle would also go some way towards raising morale.
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