COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (2)

Monday, September 28, 2009

QUESTION NO. 13

QUESTION: Councillor E. Walsh 2009

"To ask the County Manager what plans the Council has in place for the enhancement of the Cherryfield/ Beechfield Park and would he comment  in particular upon  the following matters:

1. the now 35 year vacant playground which has been a wasteground .

2. the Basketball Court which is unused and neglected and poorly delineated .

3. the Changing Rooms pavillion which has been constantly vandalised with graffiti.

Would the Manager consider the installment of  palisade fencing to secure all of these facilities  (similar to the Walkinstown Resident Association site at Bunting Road nearby) with the provision of some form of  Landscaping around it.

4. Would the Manager consider the provision of an additional park bench.

5. Would the Manager instruct Council staff to inform all teams that use the facilities of the park to voluntarily remove all plastic/drink containers and cans and other litter from the park after their use of same."

REPLY:

The Parks Department has no plans at the present time to undertake major works in Beechfield Park.  Part of  the former playground site at Beechfield Park is incorporated into the basketball court and while it is acknowledged that this facility is not in active use, the Parks Department will consult with the Councils' Sports Officer to establish if there is a demand for basketball facilities in the area.  If a user group can be identified, consideration will be given to upgrading of the basketball court subject to identification of the necessary funding to undertake the works.  With regard to the changing room facilities, the Parks Department has previously arranged for the removal of graffittii as necessary and will again seek the assistance of the Council's Environmental Services Department in this matter.

It is the experience of the Parks Department that the enclosure of a public park with palisade fencing is ineffective as those intent on anti-social behaviour and acts of vandalism will force access.  Beechfield Park is currently enclosed by a surrounding boundary hedge with pedestrian access gates and it is not proposed to install palisade fencing.

The provision of an additional park bench can be considered. However, it should be noted that unfortunately, where park benches have been provided, they often become focal points for loitering by gangs of youths and locations of anti-social behaviour. 

With regard to litter control by sports clubs using the facilities at Beechfield Park, the Council's Conditions of Pitch Allocation state that 'Clubs must collect all litter from the pitch, pitch surrounds and the vicinity of the dressing rooms before and after each match/training session and dispose of the litter in a proper manner'.  A copy of these conditions is issued to each sports club with confirmation of their pitch allocation at the start of each playing season.  The clubs in question will be written to by the Parks Department to draw their attention to this specific condition.