COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

MOTION NO. 11

MOTION: Councillor L. O'Toole

That this Area Committee asks the Chief Executive for an update on the Griffeen Park Playground. The wooden structure has once again been destroyed by vandals. To also request a report on the costs of refurbishments from its initial installation to date. Could the option of CCTV be revisited for this location considering the costs that have been incurred to date and the cost to provide and maintain the playground.

REPORT:

The cost of the repair of the Trolls Head which was damaged in June was €5,450.  A further incident of vandalism has since occurred. It is likely that the sculpture can once again be cleaned off however it is currently being examined for ways to make it less vulnerable to such damage. There was no damage to other items of play equipment. As the damage was localised, the park and playground remain open.

In relation to the proposal for CCTV; it is not considered that CCTV would act as a deterrent in this regard. When it comes to designing playgrounds it is generally found that equipment that is most easily broken or burnt are the ones that get vandalised. Therefore when designing public facilities the use of suitable materials and open vistas to encourage play are of paramount importance. This has proved positive and the playground has not had to be closed or any equipment removed due to vandalism. In Griffeen Playground robust equipment and non-flammable materials were used where possible; however sections of the sculpture are constructed of wet pour; it is now intended to explore ways to replace this with some less vulnerable material.

With regard to preventing future attacks on the playground park users are urged to report any vandalism that they are aware of to the Council. Children should not get involved with any individuals or groups whom they suspect are intent on vandalism and we would urge parents to be aware of where their children are at night and what they are up to. We have a close working relationship with local Gardaí, who have given a lot of resources to preventing problems in Griffeen Valley Park since the playground was re-opened. The Council have made a huge commitment to providing high quality play facilities across the county in recent years and we are committed to keeping them open and operational.