COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/FONTHILL AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

QUESTION NO. 1

QUESTION: Councillor P. Gogarty

To ask the Chief Executive to report on future plans for the upgrade of Glenaulin Park and if a statement can be made on the matter.

REPLY:

Glenaulin Park covers an area of approximately 11 hectares. The Park is located in South County Dublin and has a shared boundary with Dublin City. As a result, the park serves residents in both catchment areas. There are 5 GAA pitches and 2 soccer pitches in the park. The pitches are used by Ballyfermot DLS GAA, Palmerstown Utd FC, St Patricks GAA. All three clubs have clubhouses in the park. At the east end of the park, Ballyfermot Sports Complex occupies a large site which is accessed via Gurteen Road.

The park has 9 entrances which are positioned at strategic locations to facilitate access to the park and connectivity through the park. A dedicated cycle lane links Glenmaroon Road with Rossaveal Court.

A well-established beech/hawthorn hedge encloses the park, and this is interplanted with ash trees. The park has two tree lined avenues.   These are the oak (Quercus) avenue between Oakcourt Lawn/Drumfin Avenue and the lime (Tilia) avenue between Glenmaroon Road/Rossaveal Court.

The Glenaulin stream flows through the park and the banks along the stream have been set aside as naturalised areas with a restricted mowing regime in place. These areas have been planted up with a mix of trees which include oak (Quercus), beech (Fagus), Turkish Hazel (Corylus colurna), birch (Betula), Field Maple (Acer campestre), pines (Pinus), Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), Alder (Alnus), Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum).

Future plans for the park include the retention of the existing user groups which provide a high level of activity in the park. The primary user groups are the sports clubs and to this end the pitches are maintained to a high standard with grass cutting taking place on a weekly basis. To enhance accessibility to the Ballyfermot Sports Complex it is proposed to provide a link path and gate on the north side of the boundary in the complex which will enable parks users to make use of the facilities therein. Routine maintenance of the park which includes grass cutting, litter picking, hedge cutting etc. will continue on a regular basis.