New public park planned for Dublin city centre

A new public park for Dublin, expected to cost in the region of €750,000, is to be built in the Liberties area of the city next year.

Plans for the new park, the first in the area in more than 100 years, are available for public consultation and submissions for the next six weeks, and construction is expected to start early next year.

The park, which will be called Weaver Park, is planned for a vacant site owned by Dublin City Council between Cork Street and Chamber Street in Dublin 8.

The land, which has remained railed off and unused for more than eight years, was the site of the Chamber Street flat complex, a social-housing block built in the early 1970s and demolished in 2008.

The council’s management had wanted to sell the site to developers, but were blocked by local councillors who wanted to keep it for community use because of the lack of green spaces in the area.

The most recent park built in the Liberties was St Patrick’s Park, built in 1904 beside St Patrick’s Cathedral.

"There is a very obvious lack of public space and leisure facilities in the area," city parks superintendent Leslie Moore said.

“This park will significantly contribute to the greening of the area, but will also provide a range of recreational uses.”

Lawn for games

The centre of the park is divided between a large lawn for games and a smaller raised lawn for sitting and reclining.

Around this a terraced area facing on to Cork Street will provide a “hangout space” for teenagers and an area for skateboarders.

An enclosed play area will incorporate a range of play equipment suitable for children up to 10 years old, including some for children with disabilities.

The east side of the lawn will be mounded, with “ micro woodlands” .

An embankment and basket swing are also proposed, to cater for children who are too old for the enclosed play area.

The western boundary of the park will be formed by clumps of tree and native hedgerow planting, with two small alcove spaces, one for a picnic area and another for a small calisthenics gym.

The embankments on the east and west can be used as extensions for amphitheatre seating to the north when a performance is happening in the central space, which can also be used for large events such as markets, parties and exhibitions.