COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, February 08, 2021
HEADED ITEM NO. 14
HEADED ITEM: C. Performance and Change Management Directorate
TYMON PARK INTERGENERATIONAL FACILITY UPDATE - FOR NOTING
REPLY:
The SDCC capital budget has made provision of €1.29million for the provision of an Intergenerational Centre at Tymon Park.
This project has evolved from the original proposal for an active aged / age friendly facility at Templeogue House to the current proposed location at Tymon Park. SDCC’s Public Realm and the Community Depts have worked with the Architects Section to develop the concept and, after several options were considered, the preferred location chosen is the south-facing terrace at Tymon Park, adjacent to the pedestrian entrance and beside the car park at Wellington Road. This location has several advantages:
- The park is within walking distance of Templeogue village and other nearby centres.
- It allows the facility to be used independently of park opening / closing hours.
- It is a busy, high profile location in the park.
- There are a number of passive and active recreational facilites in the vicinity which complement the proposed Intergenerational Centre use.
- An existing car park is adjacent.
The current concept plan develops an idea of a multi-use facility that is adaptable to a variety of purposes. There are a number of larger function rooms in the surrounding area that cater for the demand for larger gatherings, so this facility is designed for use of small-medium sized groups that require a flexible space for community-type use. Examples of such uses are:
- Active aged / age friendly Groups
- Parent and baby/toddler Groups
- Friends of Tymon Park
- Tidy Town / Residents Groups
- Historical Societies
- Yoga / Pilates classes or keep-fit groups.
- Study Groups/ Grind classes
- Education groups
- Reading, Knitting, Bridge / other card or board games groups
- Grow It Yourself /Plant/Seed swops.
- Other small / medium community groups or meetings.
The proposed centre accommodates flexible-use both inside and outside the facility and the facilities within the park are also available to the centre users. The Intergenerational Centre provides a medium-sized, multi-functional community space; which is divided by a partition into 2 smaller, self-contained rooms if required; a coffee / tea shop with indoor and outdoor seating (that can also provide spill out space from the multi-functional community space) and an outdoor terrace which is sheltered by a canopy, which can provide space for outdoor cinema, outdoor performances, outdoor table games (chess, scrabble etc) etc. overlooking the existing lake.
The programming of events and use of the intergenerational centre will be under the management of the Council’s Community Services Department
The proposed Intergenerational Centre with its café makes the best of its parkland setting with a south facing terrace overlooking the lake. It will in turn enhance users experience and enjoyment of the park with its complementary facilities.
The landscape plan for the proposed facility ensures the building is integrated into the parkland setting; the landscape plan realigns the vehicular route; upgrading the walking route into the park from Wellington Road and providing an enhanced pedestrian entrance to the park; putting the emphasis on pedestrian / wheelchair access and as well as providing cycle parking. The plan also provides for compensatory planting and enhances the pollinator planting within the area. This planting area may be of interest to gardening / wildlife interest groups etc. who may wish to use the facility. The proposed green roof helps to integrate the facility into the parks landscape, provides an ecological habitat and enhances sustainable drainage.
The preliminary design for the project is currently being finalised and, once complete, it is intended to commence the Part 8 stage in Q1 2021.