Killinarden Park €2m upgrade plans get go ahead despite concerns

PLANS for the €2m upgrade of Killinarden Park – including new raised pitches, CCTV and enhanced lighting in a bid to tackle ongoing issues with anti-social behaviour – were approved on Monday.

The Part 8 Killinarden Park Upgrade plans attracted an “unprecedented” 1,269 responses during the public consultation stage, according to Teresa Walsh, South Dublin County Council’s Director of Environment, Water and Climate Change.

The plans were brought before councillors at Monday’s monthly meeting of South Dublin County Council, where the plans for new raised pitches in the park were a repeated point of contention.

As previously reported in The Echo, the pitches in Killinarden Park that are used by Croí Ró Naofa GAA Club have repeatedly been damaged as a result of anti-social behaviour.

The use of scrambler and quad bikes in the park are a regular occurrence, which has repeatedly damaged pitches that are used by the club.

Volunteers from the club also routinely have to remove broken glass and drug paraphernalia, including used syringes, from the pitches.

The club had submitted a proposal to the council for a fenced-in pitch as part of the plans for the upgrade of the park, however the council deemed it “an unsuitable project” for a public park.

Instead, in the plans put before councillors this week, the council proposed the development of raised pitches with “natural barriers” to deter anti-social behaviour.

Speaking at the council meeting, Cllr Dermot Richardson (SF) said: “I don’t believe it’s the right plan for the area.

“I do think that Croí Ró Naofa have not been listened to. We’re not in Foxrock…this is probably the worst anti-social behaviour [a sports club has to deal with].

“The club said that it will not survive with the plans going forward.”

Cllr Louise Dunne (SF) added: “I’ve expressed my frustration that the pitches aren’t going to be fenced off, but after listening to Teresa [Walsh], I’ve put my faith in council management.

“I think proper CCTV, proper lighting, the community taking back ownership of the park and proper footfall will relieve the anti-social behaviour.”

Several councillors expressed reservations about what would happen if the raised pitches do not quell the issues with anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Mick Duff (Ind) said: “The raised pitch and the natural boundary assuages some of the fears I have about this, but can we revisit it if anything goes wrong?”

Cllr Laura Donaghy (GP) also asked the council how they planned to respond if the new park features “do not have the desired effect”.

Ms Walsh from South Dublin County Council said the local authority wanted to make the park “useable, friendly and safe”.

“I don’t believe fences are going to work, and we don’t advocate fencing in open parks.”

She added that people who engage in anti-social behaviour can see fencing as “a challenge” and she believed that, if fences were installed around the pitches, “they will be down within minutes”.

The local authority will continually “review and monitor” the park during and after the installation of the upgrade works, which will be carried out on a phased basis.

Another issue raised during the debate concerned businesses in South City Business Park who, according to Cllr Ronan McMahon (Ind), had concerns about “increased access” as a result of the proposed walkway between Sean Walsh Park and Killinarden Park which could cause “security concerns”.

The Killinarden Park Upgrade Part 8 was approved at the meeting, with 24 votes in favour, nine against and two abstentions.

Ms Walsh said the council will continue to meet with Croí Ró Naofa members and elected members about the issues raised.

The council has consulted with gardai about the ongoing issues with anti-social behaviour in the park.

The local authority hopes to commence work on the upgrade of Killinarden Park by the end of this year.