COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, June 17, 2021

MOTION NO.

MOTION: Councillor Carly Bailey

To provide for more seating throughout our public parks and green spaces. This is to encourage more social interactions between members of the community and to enable those with mobility or other health issues, that require taking regular rests, the confidence to be able to exercise in their local area.

REPORT:

The motion seeks the provision of more seating throughout our public parks and green spaces, to encourage more social interactions between members of the community and to enable those with mobility or other health issues, that require taking regular rests, the confidence to be able to exercise in their local area.

It is acknowledged that the CDP should support the provision of facilities within parks and open spaces, but individual provision needs to be designed on a case by case basis.

SDCC provides seating and picnic tables via the revenue budget. Central funding for park seating and picnic benches is not a directly funded item, however, funding may be accessible from within other projects or schemes that include seating as an integral part of the project. Provision of seating / picnic tables improves public amenities, increases age friendly facilities and facilitates access to the outdoors. Seating provides resting areas for people who need them, creates gathering areas where people can socialise and can also allow people to spend longer outdoors and facilitate exercise regimes or can mark a resting/ viewing spot.  

In terms of the provision of new facilities; ideally the location would be a benefit to many as opposed to few, however risk is assessed and consideration is given on a case by case basis, sometimes by placing furniture on a trial basis. This includes a site survey as well as examining existing, proposed and intended uses in the area. The surrounding facilities and uses are studied and the site constraints and opportunities are noted.

In light of Covid 19 restrictions, placement of new benches and picnic tables also has to take cognisance of social distancing. However, as benches tend to be spaced out this is not a significant issue for existing facilities and the public communication campaign has ensured a high level of public knowledge on the requirements and how to socially distance; so the issue is, to a great extent, self-policed.

In addition to location and placement parameters; the intended use of the seating (as outlined above) is also considered in the proposed layout and design, as well as the type of seating most suited to best match intended usage and need. Other design parameters include decisions around the type of surfacing under and approaching the seating, planting and other features. 

Proposed locations can be considered by input from members of the public, residents’ associations and other stakeholders. However, it should also be noted SDCC are often asked to remove seats from some locations due to concerns from park users and members of the public. In recent years SDCC have trialled a disability-friendly bench and picnic table; crafted by SDCC staff and in consultation with stakeholders; this has proven to be successful and very popular.

It is considered that an amendment can be considered as follows:

COS 5 Objective 8: ‘To ensure the design of parks and public open space areas is of high quality; to provide a pleasant setting, accommodate use by people of all ages and abilities, to support life-long activity, and good health and well-being by the provision of a balanced mix of active and passive recreation and access to, or view of, nature’.

To read:

COS 5 Objective 8: ‘To ensure the design of parks and public open space areas is of high quality; to provide a pleasant setting, accommodate use by people of all ages and abilities, to support life-long activity and good health and well-being by the provision of a balanced mix of active and passive recreation and access to, or view of, nature ensuring that the design considers:

Recommendation

It is recommended that the motion is adopted with amendments to include additional wording in COS 5 Objective 8 to satisfy the intent of the motion, so that the objective reads as follows:

COS 5 Objective 8: ‘To ensure the design of parks and public open space areas is of high quality; to provide a pleasant setting, accommodate use by people of all ages and abilities, to support life-long activity and good health and well-being by the provision of a balanced mix of active and passive recreation and access to, or view of, nature, ensuring that the design considers: