Resident calling for developer to follow through with the promise of a ‘Neighbourhood Park’ in Citywest

THE unkept appearance of a ‘new neighbourhood park’ in Citywest on which development has stalled makes it seem like “no one cares about the area”, according to a local resident.

Over the last year, the green space has become overgrown while large-scale residential developments continue at pace in the surrounding area.

The Echo understands that the site was previously under the ownership of Davy Hickey Properties, which developed the Citywest Business Campus, but was sold to an unknown buyer last year.

A Citywest resident, who asked to be kept anonymous, said the overgrown site gives people a negative perception of the area, and is disappointing for residents to see.

“In my opinion, the promise of the park was a small consolation prize for all the apartment blocks that are flying-up in Citywest, but at least it was something,” they said.

“There’s no hold or delay on construction but the park is being left unfinished, it’s like they don’t care.

“It makes it look like no one cares about the community or the area.

“It’s all overgrown and it’s obviously attracting anti-social behaviour with one of the barriers bent back last week. I had to dodge it on my walk.

“My sister-in-law mentioned [the condition of the park] to me recently when she visited. She used to live in Citywest and couldn’t believe how unkept the place looks.”

The resident said the green space used to be maintained, but this work seems to have fallen by the wayside within the past year.

“I’d say it’s been at least a year since anything has been done to it,” they said.

“They were cutting the grass but all that has stopped. The grass verges on the pathway along it, on both sides of the road, haven’t been cut and are overgrown too.”

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Charlie O’Connor said members of the community are frustrated by the park development being stalled, and he called on the council to consider taking the site in charge.

“These things should be expedited, and if there’s a possibility of the council taking it over, that should be done,” Cllr O’Connor told The Echo.

“Citywest absolutely needs facilities and anything that can improve the facilities should be done – having a half-finished park sitting behind fencing is not good enough.

“It’s causing real upset in the community. The community has a potential facility that they can’t access.

“I’d be calling on the council to see if they’re in a position to take charge of the park, and if they are, they should do that because there is a clear need for facilities and amenities in Citywest.”

The Echo contacted South Dublin County Council to see if it was in a position to take in charge or monitor the development of the park, but a response wasn’t received at the time of going to print.

Meanwhile, Citywest residents are still faced with the daily sight of a promised ‘new neighbourhood park’ that continues to overgrow and is fenced off from the community.

“I just want them to finish the park so it’s not an eyesore and open it up so the community can use it,” added the resident.

“Simply follow through with the promise of a ‘neighbourhood park’.”

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