Park in need of proper ‘maintenance and management’ plan to show true potential
A BALLYFERMOT park is in need of a proper “maintenance and management plan” to bring it up to its true potential, according to a local councillor.
Le Fanu Park, more commonly known as ‘The Lawns’ in Ballyfermot is home to seven soccer pitches and Ballyfermot Leisure Centre, also houses an outdoor gym, community playground and €2m skate and BMX park.
According to local councillor Vincent Jackson, there is a necessity for a proper maintenance plan for the large park.
“There is just what I would call a regular maintenance – litter picking and grass cutting, but The Lawns is the largest public park that the city council has in this area, and it requires a much higher level of attention on an ongoing basis,” Cllr Jacksn said.
“Within its boundaries it has the countries largest leisure centre which cost €38m and it has the new skate and play park which cost just under €2m – there is a large amount of resources in the park and there needs to be an integrated way of managing the park.”
Cllr Jackson put forward a motion at a recent council meeting, asking for the plan to be put in place and acknowledge the origins of Ballyfermot that was started at the park such as Ballyfermot Castle, the Old Church and the Graveyard.
He said: “When I was a kid, the graveyard was still there some of the old castle walls were still there but unfortunately in the 1970’s they were built over by Dublin City Council because of anti-social behaviour and things like that.
“I just want to acknowledge that they can almost see this is where it started, and just for people to be aware that this area has a long history as well.
“I want to make sure that it is not forgotten about in the overall work that is being done by the city council.
“I am not going to beat around the bush, St. Anne’s Park, which is the premier park in the city council in Clontarf gets a massive amount of money on an ongoing basis.
Cllr Jackson added: “I don’t have a problem with that, but I just don’t want us then to turn around and say well we have got no money for the parks in the working-class areas of the city, because at the end of the day we have a right to have quality parks as well.
