COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

MOTION NO.3

MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

"That this Area Committee requests that any play area to be installed in the Hermitage Park area is located adjoining St. Loman's to the front of the extended park next to Mount Andrew estate."

REPORT:

In August 2013, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs issued a call for submissions for a 50:50 matched funding stream for playspace projects within the county. A submission was made for 50:50 funding for two play spaces in South Dublin in

·        Hermitage Park, Lucan

·        Ballycragh Park, Firhouse

The project submissions included detailed layout and equipment information and came to a total cost for both projects of €100,000 - €70,000 for Hermitage and €30,000 for Ballycragh. The submission proposed that the projects be funded 50:50 between the Department and the Council. The Council has been notified of an allocation of €30,000 in total for the two projects- €20,000 towards the Hermitage Park project and €10,000 towards Ballycragh. The Council has confirmed acceptance of the grant and the terms of the scheme and committed it's share of the matched funding arrangements of €20,000 will be provided by the Council.  Revised proposals are now being prepared for the site in light of the total €40,000 funding now available. 

The proposed plan for Hermitage Park was based on a mix of formal and natural play elements and utilising existing features of the site.  The proposed site was chosen on the basis of a number of criteria:

·        Universally accessible site

·        Proximity to natural woodland and hedgerow areas that would be incorporated as natural play elements of the outline plan

·        Good informal supervision from the adjacent road

·        Proximity to the local car park

·        Sited to reduce any negative impacts on the local residential community

The site at Mount Andrew was also examined and whilst it is considered to be a good site it lacked the woodland features of the chosen site that would be important in the development of the natural play element of the proposal.  The Mount Andrew site was also considered to be too close to and open to the adjacent road and motor traffic.