COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEASSOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

HEADED ITEM NO 13.

A Living Place

Section: Social Inclusion, Community Facilities and Recreation

1.3.31 Open Space

Amend sections headed ‘Regional Parks’ and ‘Pocket Parks’ to read as follows (additional text in bold, deleted text struck through):

Regional Parks:

Regional Parks are large parks, serving the County, which people travel to for a wide range of intensive recreational activities.  These parks also serve an important function at the regional level in terms of biodiversity as their size provides for a range of ecosystems. The conservation of these ecosystems is important and therefore care should be taken when locating recreational activities such as sports pitches and large playgrounds within the park.  Play facilities, to include those for different age groups (YCAPs, LEAPs and LAPs) including YCAPs (Young Children’s Areas for Play), LEAPs (Local Equipped Areas for Play) and NEAPs (Neighbourhood Equipped Areas for Play), should be located in robust parts of the park and preferably should be served by a network of public transport. A fuller explanation of the different categories of play facilities is contained at Appendix 6. 

Pocket Parks:

Pocket parks are normally located very close to houses, are small but well overlooked and can contain facilities for very young children (LAPs) (YCAPS) but not play equipment.  Pocket parks can be characterised by a small seating area and by items that can be touched or looked at and they tend to be a focus for local life.  They should be approximately 100m² and be adjacent to and overlooked by the homes which they serve.

Reason

In order to provide a clear explanation of the different types of play area referred to.

Recommendation

That the amendment be adopted.