COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

MOTION NO. 5

MOTION: Councillor K. Egan

"To ask the Chief Executive to look at the possible installation of some steel park benches situated around Knockmitten Park to allow people with reduced and bad mobility a place to rest."

 

REPORT:

Knockmitten Park is a linear park which runs alongside the M50 and is approximately 13 hectares in size. The estates of Yellow Meadows, Woodford, Monksfield and Monastery Gate are situated to the west of the park.

The provision of seating in public parks is desirable and would usually be considered an enhancement. However, this is not always the case and in many public parks, the provision of seating has resulted in unintended consequences. In many cases, this has proven to be so difficult to resolve that, regrettably, the only effective solution has been to remove the seating.

While seating serves a worthwhile function in a park, the antisocial element associated with park furniture is often completely counterproductive. While there are generally few problems with park seating during normal park opening hours, after hours the seats become focal points for gatherings. These gatherings engage in a range of anti-social behaviour including drinking, littering, graffiti, lighting of fires, burning of wheelies bins and often result in vandalism and damage to the seat itself. 

The park will be examined to see if any locations can be identified where seating might have a chance of success.  If it is possible to identify suitable locations the provision of seating will be listed for consideration for the 2017 Public Realm Improvement Works Programme. It is important to note that any new seats if installed, will be carried out on a trial basis and are subject to removal in the event of anti-social activities becoming problematic.