COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/FONTHILL AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
HEADED ITEM NO. 6
HEADED ITEM: L. Colleran
Playground & Teenspace for Collinstown Park
REPLY:
Collinstown Park
A major new development aimed at improving the lives of young people is planned for Collinstown Park including a new playground for children up to the age of 12 and a Teenspace.
The playground has been designed to fit into the parkland landscape and contains a wide range of equipment as well as many natural play features. The aim is to create an inclusive playspace where children can play together regardless of ability. The main features of the playground will be the large sand play area, swings, slide, climbing frame, climbing trees, monkey bars, gymnastic bars, spinning disk, wobble belt and a double zipline. There will also be natural play elements especially important for younger children and to encourage as much physical activity as possible. The playground will be constructed in mainly natural materials similar to the very successful playground at Griffeen Valley Park and Willsbrook Park and it will be fully enclosed with fencing.
In conjunction with the playground an area for teenagers is also proposed. Staff from the Public Realm team consulted with over 500 teenagers in the area and based on the feedback an innovative new type of space will be developed. In the consultation teenagers asked for a space very different to anything that already exists in Dublin and we are very excited to deliver it. Teenagers asked for a place to meet their friends, hang out, be online, play music and engage in a range of different physical activities.
Central to the entire proposal will be Dublins first parkour area. Parkour or free running is an activity or sport of moving rapidly through an area, negotiating obstacles by running, jumping, and climbing. It will consist of large concrete blocks spaced out at intervals as well as a network of metal bars. There is also a Calisthenics area. Calisthenics involves gymnastic exercise designed to develop muscular tone and physical vigour. Users can scan the equipment with their smartphones to see videos and gain tips on how to use the equipment.
The provision of wifi is also an important part of the space as young people communicate in the online world as well as traditional ways. The seating provided is suitable for groups and individuals and is an important part of the styling of the space. Music has always been part of youth culture and here teenagers can share music with their friends through the smart phone speaker. This operates by wind up handle so does not require electrical connection. There will also be a water font for hydration.
Not everyone will be instantly capable of using the calisthenics and parkour equipment so there will also be a Half Multi Use Games Area which consists of a goal and a basketball hoop where ball games can be played and there will also be a mountain bike track. Public Realm have been in discussions with the SDC Sports Partnership on providing training for teenagers in the local schools on using the equipment.
This combination of meeting up, hanging out and the unique range of physical activities is a direct response to the consultation with local teenagers and is much anticipated locally. We hope that this will be the first of many such facilities across the county and will contribute greatly to the physical and mental health and wellbeing of young people growing up in South Dublin.