COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM / TEMPLEOGUE / FIRHOUSE / BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

MOTION NO. 2

MOTION: Councillor J. Sinnott

This Committee requests the Council to investigate improvements for users at the Tymon Park Dog Run including: 1) Changes to the entrance to the dog run: On a few occasions in the past few months users have slipped and fallen while trying to enter the area with their pets. Could a section of rubber grass protection matting which can be filled with gravel to provide a safe footing be considered? 2) Need for adequate lighting inward to the dog run. In winter at 4pm it is dark in the run and it is impossible to see any dogs without the use of a torch. Could a simple floodlight on a timer facing into the run by each entrance be considered?

REPORT:

The Councils Public Realm Section have plans to improve the existing entrance to the dog run surface in Tymon Park by installing a self-binding gravel entrance, this will allow water to percolate and create a more appealing entrance for dog run visitors. In addition to this the council have plans to conduct additional works on the dog run which will include aeration and topdressing. Aeration and topdressing enhance the dog runs durability, promoting better drainage and stronger grass growth to withstand the regular usage.

Public lighting in parks and open spaces is in general only provided where there are short pedestrian links between residential areas which are lit to facilitate permeability.  It may not be safe to attract members of the public into a park in darkness by providing lighting as this may also attract anti-social elements into the area.  Parks should therefore not be used during darkness when alternative lit routes are available along public roads which are passively supervised by passing traffic. The provision of lights in our parks would also increase the carbon footprint of the Council and it could be considered to be an unacceptable intrusion into the ecology of the area.