COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

MOTION NO. 20

MOTION: Councillor L. O'Toole

Cathaoirleach's Business

"That this Committee requests the Chief Executive to examine the possibility of designing a mapped out running trek within the Griffeen Park and Willsbrook park. The trek can be a mixture of pathway/grass/gravel, etc. Considering the amount of people that are now running and walking these treks would be a fantastic amenity at a low cost to the council and would help more people to be encouraged to take up walking or jogging.

REPORT:

"A number of marked routes have been installed in parks throughout the County over the years. These would include iWalks, Orienteering routes, Slí na Sláinte routes, Maths Eye trails, Fairy trails etc. It has been the experience of the Public Realm Section that the routes attract a lot of attention initially after they are first installed. This attention tends falls off as the novelty factor dissipates.

Generally Griffeen Valley Park and Willsbrook Park are visited by local residents who are familiar with the network of paths.  This familiarity is further enhanced in Griffeen Valley Park by the Park Run which takes place there every Saturday morning at 9:30am over a 2.5km circuit. Details of the circuit can be found on the Park Run website which is linked here. The Park is also used as a venue for primary schools cross country heats which take place there on three occasions each year. Willsbrook Park also plays a role in the cross country runs and is used as training location by a local school.

Given the high level of use within both park there are no current proposals to introduce marked running routes in these parks."