Restoration of historic features part of Dublin park plan

Dublin City Council has unveiled plans for the redevelopment of Mountjoy Square Park in the north inner city.

Dublin Civic Trust has described it as one of the most spectacular reinventions of a public park in the city for generations.

However, the Dublin City Sports Club Network has expressed concern about the removal of a sports pitch and playground as part of the redesign.

Designed in the early 1800s as a pleasure garden for residents of one of the capital's five Georgian squares, Mountjoy Square Park was taken over by the then-Dublin Corporation in 1938.

But Dublin City Council (DCC) has said two centuries of additions to Mountjoy Square Park such as a crèche and a hard surface sports area - that was originally a tennis court - have significantly degraded its original design.

The council also said the park's disjointed layout and outdated infrastructure attracts anti-social behaviour.

It is proposing to restore and conserve some of its 18th Century features, including the oil lamps around the perimeter railings, and make additions such as a circular lawn and ornamental trees, which it said, could transform the park into a world class public amenity.

In its plans, DCC said Mountjoy Square Park could become one of the city's most sophisticated and attractive parks, while also adding to local economy.

Mountjoy Square resident Frances Dockery said locals are excited about the plans because the park currently is not used to its potential.

A view of Dublin City Council's proposed redevelopment of Mountjoy Square Park

"It does look pretty neglected. It's not an inviting space to come into and only half the park functions as a park.

"It's a small space, really, but I think that it's not really catering for everyone who lives around here," she said.

Ms Dockery added: "It's not a space that I would come and sit and relax in or explore. It's not a place where you would feel that comfortable doing that at the moment.

"I really hope it does come to fruition; I think [the] plans are brilliant. They seem to try to cater for everybody.

"The idea of landscaping it and a beautiful, big green lawn, like other similar old Georgian squares that you see in other parts of Dublin, London, etc. I think it'll be fabulous."

However, there are reservations about the redesign from some because it removes a sports pitch and playground.

Councillor Daniel Ennis, who is a member of the Dublin City Sports Club Network, said the sports pitches being removed from the park must be replaced.

"Sport is very important in this community and everybody wants to see play and recreation in this park, because it's long been a recreational hub for this community.

"I would have met some of my best friends from football up on this pitch. Now, we would have been killing each other on it, then hugging and kissing each other after," he said.

Cllr Ennis added: "Spaces like this have been taken away and are so important to our communities and to our young people.

"It's a real space to bring the communities together and bring people together. They're lifesavers these pitches and these spaces, you know.

"Football is the most participated sport in this community, in the city and in the country, so we have to be catering for football. We have to be catering for what the community needs."

DCC has said the redesign will double the number of playground items which will be spread throughout the park and the hard surface used for informal games will be replaced by a multifunctional green space which can be used for a kickabout.

In a statement, DCC said it has invested significantly in recent years in recreational facilities in this area and that the many other hard surface pitches nearby will be assessed to see if they can be improved.

"The proposed investment in Mountjoy Square Park and its environs is part of the city council’s ongoing commitment to this part of the city and it will have significant benefits for the health and wellbeing of the local community from a recreation and social perspective.

"From an economic perspective it will be a showpiece for the city attracting visitors to experience a flagship park which supports the needs of an urban community, but which also reflects and interprets the unique heritage of the city."

Public consultation on the plan is open until 26 February.