Teenspace promotes physical well-being

THE Teenspace at Collinstown Park was officially opened by Mayor of South Dublin County Council Councillor Peter Kavanagh.

The new facility, which will encourage teenagers to meet and engage in physical activity in a safe space was opened in the park in Neilstown on Thursday, October 28.

Speaking at the official opening, Mayor Cllr Peter Kavanagh said that South Dublin County Council’s teenspace Programme is “directly focused” at meeting the needs of teenagers which include access to the outdoors, social contact and physical activity to promote physical and mental well-being.

“South Dublin County Council’s teenspace Programme commenced following countywide consultations with teenagers, to find out what their needs are and how those needs can be best met in council parks and open spaces,” he said.

“Our teenagers told us that they wanted safe spaces to meet with their friends and wanted to engage in a range of unstructured physical activities. Teenagers showed a strong preference for self-directed activity over organised activities.”

Mayor Cllr Kavanagh with Cllr Madeleine Johansson, Cllr Eoin O’Broin, Cllr Joanna Tuffy, Mark Ward TD and Teresa Walsh (SDCC Director of Service) along with members of SDCC Parks Dept at the official opening of the Teen Space

He continued: “Encouraging physical activity in any form is extremely important for physical and mental health we thought very important to listen to teenagers about the types of activity that particularly appeal to them.”

The Mayor thanked the local community for their support of the park and teenspace at Collinstown Park, and the work of council staff in managing the project and maintaining the teenspace.