COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 12, 2024

QUESTION NO. 26

QUESTION: Councillor E. Ó Broin

What is the scope to extend by one hour public park opening times over the summer months?

REPLY:

In general pedestrian entrances to parks remain open at all times whereas vehicle entrances which provide access to car parks are closed overnight, the current closing time for the months of June to August being 9pm.  Some park entrances are controlled by way of automated gates and these are in place at Tymon Park, Griffeen Valley Park and a number of other locations such as the Dodder Valley Pavilion car park and Kiltipper Park.   Where an entrance gate is controlled in this way it is a matter of adjusting the time of closure and this requested change could be examined on a trial basis over the coming summer. Below are details of the status of automation of entrance gates to the main parks within the county.

• The Corkagh Park masterplan project includes the automation of the entrance gates at St John’s Wood and at Camac Valley and these will be completed this year.  The Outer Ring Road car park currently has no gate or barrier and is therefore open at all times. 
• At Tymon Park all entrance gates into car parks are already automated and closing time can therefore be changed as required.
• At Griffeen Valley the entrance gates to the Newcastle Road/running track car park and to the Haydens Lane car park are both automated and closing time can be changed as required.  The entrance gate at the swimming pool car park is expected to be automated as part of the swimming pool development project.
• At both car parks at Tandy’s Lane and Airlie Park both entrance gates are automated.
• At Dodder Valley Park the entrance gate at the pavilion car park is automated, other car parks at Firhouse Road and at Cherryfield are open at all times.
• At Kiltipper Park the entrance gate is automated.