Seven local parks awarded green flags
By Aideen O'Flaherty
SEVEN local parks were awarded Green Flags recently, in recognition of the management of parks by local authorities across criteria including safety, cleanliness, conservation, sustainability and community involvement.
South Dublin County Council saw success with five parks they manage receiving Green Flags, including Waterstown Park in Palmerstown, Sean Walsh Park and Tymon Park in Tallaght, Corkagh Park in Clondalkin and, for the first time, Rathfarnham Castle Park was awarded a Green Flag.
Sean Walsh Park
A spokesperson for South Dublin County Council said: “The Green Flag Awards are judged every year by a peer jury of green space experts, who volunteer their time to visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability, and community involvement.
“In Ireland, the Green Flag Award for Parks Scheme has been enthusiastically received by park management as it delivers major wins for the delivery of quality green spaces by respective parks and park departments.”
Dublin City Council’s parks also received Green Flag Awards for Markievicz Park in Ballyfermot and Bushy Park in Terenure.
Robert Moss, the Green Flag Award for Parks manager for the Republic of Ireland, said: “I think that now our public parks are more valued than ever it is time to start appreciating them as investments in the future.
Tymon Park
“Any funding spent on parks is repaid by them in terms of our quality of life, health, and happiness.
“They also provide us with the ability to adapt to the unexpected in an increasingly urban environment, and uncertain world.”
The Green Flag Awards are established in more than 50 countries, and the award scheme in the Republic of Ireland is managed by An Taisce.
The seven local parks are included in the 84 public parks from across the country to achieve a Green Flag Award in 2020.
“Tallaght Litter Mugs actively play an fundamental role within Sean Walsh Park providing community participation, monthly litter picks, providing key community engagement on new initiatives and park maintenance which feeds into the green flag application and management programme for the following years,” said a South Dublin County Council spokesperson.
“South Dublin County Council has been awarded green flags for five parks in 2020, these are Sean Walsh Park, Tymon Park, Rathfarnham Park, Corkagh Park and Waterstown Park”.
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