COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, November 08, 2021

MOTION NO.8

MOTION: Councillor Carly Bailey

That this council requests that playgrounds across the county include sensory structures as well as planting (and/or other materials) which can act as 'chill out' zones for children with additional needs. Planting could include fragrant/sensory plants, pollinator friendly plants and edible plants. This could be a fantastic way to make our play grounds even more inclusive and accessible.

REPORT:

SDCC's playspace programme is designed to incorporate natural play elements, as this is shown to have increasing benefits for all. The playspace programme, while incorporating natural play, used the existing landscape within the open spaces and parks the spaces were set in. This has the added benefit of retaining existing biodiversity as well as allowing children to benefit from access to nature.

During the delivery of the programme all locations were subject to intense public consultation to ensure the locations were best fit for each community. Similarly with the facilities and the design of the playspaces; in most locations the design responded to the vision the local children had for the playspace for their area. There are many parameters to satisfy in the design and location of a playground, and the resulting playspaces are a delicate balance of the requirements in each area.

Where space was available we included adjacent tree or woodland areas, planted areas and biodiversity within the play area. However in some cases, the playspaces are small, local ones and space was not sufficient to include a planted area. In the smaller local playspaces, which get such intensive use, planting is not always feasible and will not survive the robust use these areas receive. However where space is available areas of planting are included and add significantly to the play value of the playspace. Examples of such playspaces are: 

The main playground in Tymon Park has wooded areas, willow tunnels and access to biodiverse areas and a variety of landscapes, the woodland playground in Tymon Park is set in the woodland area, the playspace at Limekiln is also set in a wooded area, Glendoher has a willow tunnel and  Perrystown is set in areas of shade under trees with also areas in the sun . Some other playspaces that incorporate nature into them include: Hermitage, Griffeen Valley, Corkagh Park, Waterstown, Willsbrook Park, Lucan Demesne, Rathcoole Park, and Knockmitten.

In many locations the adjacent parkland setting is also available to provide additional access to nature. We are seeking through the implementation of the Pollinator Action Plan to improve the natural setting of our parks and these areas, with their variety of plant and animal life, are also available to children, some of whom find them fascinating to wander or run through.

Play is recognised as a vital activity for healthy child development and the aim of the Playspace Programme is to deliver play facilities to children close to where they live and therefore increase their opportunities for play and activity every day.  As well as contributing to better physical and mental health for children the playspaces have taken on a significance in terms of becoming focal points and meeting places for local communities.  

South Dublin County Council is committed to access and equality, SDCC adopted the Barcelona Declaration in June 2002. This EU-wide Declaration advocates the right of disabled people to equal opportunities, inclusiveness and integration. SDCC has been actively implementing the Declaration ever since through various actions and access initiatives. The extensive access works and initiatives which SDCC have undertaken over the past 15 years in particular have been focused on removing the barriers that create disability and exclusion in order to create an Accessible South Dublin County.

As part of the delivery of the Playspace Programme SDCC consulted with the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design and a universal design approach has been taken which recognises the diversity of the population and ensures that our playgrounds can be used by everyone. SDCC have sought specialist advice on several occasions when designing playspaces and when analysing tenders and awarding contracts. Post-construction accessibility audits have been carried out on several of our built playspaces. These audits have proved invaluable as a learning tool and have allowed us to incorporate changes into existing playgrounds and build these improvements into future playgrounds as well.