COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

QUESTION NO. 7

QUESTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

To ask the Manager for a report on Waterstown Park to include opening and closing times, incidents of anti-social behaviour, level of usage, the state of the peripheral fence/boundary and if any feedback has been received from the public or users?

REPLY:

The car park to Waterstown Park is opened on weekdays, by local staff based in Waterstown Park, by 10am each morning.  The closing time varies throughout the year and is related to the closing of the car parks in the Griffeen Valley Regional Park.  The car park is currently closed at approximately 5.00pm in the evenings by the Park Rangers.  In the event that cars are still present in the car park at closing time, arrangements have been made with Stewart's Hospital for their staff to close it in the evenings.  At weekends/Bank Holidays, the car park is opened by the Park Rangers at approximately 10.30am.  The closing arrangements for weekends/Bank Holidays are the same as the week day closing arrangements. 

The incidences of anti social behaviour have been steadily decreasing for a number of years.  There have not been any incidences of cars encroaching into the park since its official opening and incursions by motorbikes are now very infrequent.  A local resident whose property borders the park recently remarked that the park is quieter now than it has ever been.   The reduction in anti social behaviour can also be seen in the reduction in wheel bin thefts along Waterstown Avenue and the associated burning of bins on paths in the park. 

The profile of the park has been raised in the last couple of years through an increasing number of events such as the Palmerstown Festival, Bealtaine Festival, Eco Week, BioBlitz and the Craic Assault Course Race.  It has also continued to attract large numbers of walkers and is well used by clients and staff from Stewart's Hospital. 

The park boundary is secured against access by cars but it is open to pedestrians at the entrances and along the River Liffey.  The public perception of the park is very positive and this has been relayed on numerous occasions to the Park Rangers when they are patrolling the park.  It is used by an increasing number of people for both passive and active recreation.