COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

MOTION NO.9

MOTION: Councillor P. Gogarty

"That the Chief Executive revert with an update on repair works and monitoring at the Multi Use Games Area beside Hermitage Park and Esker Celtic clubhouse"

REPORT: 

The area referred to is the recently constructed Play Space. It has been a very successful project and is well used.

In terms of maintenance – like any facility there is an ongoing maintenance issue and particularly in those that are as well used as the one in Hermitage Park. It should also be borne in mind that the design of this play space is based on Natural Play and where the emphasis is on the use of natural materials as much as possible and where children can use their own imaginations in creating play opportunities. This can in some cases, for example where grassed areas are worn to due to the numbers of children playing, lead to an impression that the play space is not being maintained which is not the case. Rather it is a sign of success. 

Damaged equipment is repaired as soon as possible and where the damage cannot be immediatley repaired becasue parts are required, the particular unit, or section of it, is removed until repair is possible.

There have been some incidents reported where teenagers have gathered in the playspace, in particular in the evening time, and their presence has deterred younger children and their parents from using the playspace. The Park Rangers are monitoring the area along with An Garda Síochána to ensure that this issue is controlled as far as possible. This type of teenage behaviour typically occurs with the introduction of a new facility and it is the Council's experience that this will settle down after a short period of time after the novelty of the space has faded.

A further development for this play space is the construction of natural paths through the adjacent woodland and the creation of a wildflower area with grass paths running through it which will add to the play opportunities available to children.