COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/FONTHILL AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

QUESTION NO. 4

QUESTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

To ask the Chief Executive for a report on the children’s’ play space in Waterstown Park at the boundary with Riversdale and to include in his reply if there are any plans to restore it to a satisfactory standard as envisaged when first proposed.

REPLY:

The playarea at Riversdale was one of the first play areas to be constructed under the Playground Programme which commenced in 2014. As this was a new initiative a public consultation exercise was carried out during which a lot correspondence and representation was received regarding what should be provided and not provided. The consultation exercise resulted in the construction of a passive play area which provided for imaginative play in contrast to active play where traditionally swings/slides etc are installed.

The play area was initially enclosed by a post and wire fence with a beech hedge planted around it. Due to vandalism, the fence and sections of the hedge were damaged. In addition, the mature trees on site hampered the successful growing of the hedge. Unfortunately, as a result the hedge and fence had to be removed.

The maintenance of the playarea was examined in 2017 following the adoption of the motion at the Council meeting in May 2017 regarding a partial ban on the use of glyphosate, in the maintenance of public parks and playgrounds. The small ‘maze’ would have been maintained previously using glyphosate however in light the adopted motion this practice ceased. The mounding at the ‘maze’ prevented maintenance by mechanical means which is why herbicide was the optimal solution. Normally in situations where there is regular footfall, vegetation will not easily establish. In this instance there was an absence of regular footfall and therefore the area gradually returned to a non-chemically maintained state where vegetation re-established over time. To reinstall this feature would require the removal of the mounding and the surfacing of the ‘maze’ paths with a more robust, weed resistant surface. This is currently being examined however the benefit of these works may be cost prohibitive.

Further works to enhance the appearance saw the removal of four mounds on site which due to their steepness were not possible to cut on a frequent basis. This resulted in several complaints which were resolved once the mounds were removed.

The small cycle track is still in place and will continue to be maintained as such.