Beach, arena to 'open up' park to public

Extensive changes to Blackrock Park in south Co Dublin designed to "open the park up" to popular usage, are being proposed by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

Under a new €4.2 master plan the council is planning to develop a "youth cafe" and gallery, an enhanced amphitheatre with a stage, lighting and canopy, as well as a skateboarding area, new sports areas and playgrounds and a renovated lake with a beach and paddling pool.

Other changes will include a recycling centre with a "green building", a parks depot and offices, and an "arena" for events such as farmers' markets and arts performances.

Additional car parking is to be developed at a number of locations to facilitate the arena, clients of the visiting circus and increased numbers of park users.

Starting at the Blackrock end of the park facing the shopping centre, the council is planning a new civic plaza for the village with tea rooms, seating, lighting and a relocated bandstand. Boundary walls and railings are to be removed but the main gates and piers of the park are to be retained.

It is proposed to acquire a strip of land from the owners of the private house known as Deepwell for improved cycle and pedestrian access to Blackrock station.

In the mid-section of the park the lake is to be redeveloped with a new beach and paddling pond while the existing amphitheatre and stage is to be enhanced with hard and soft surfaces, lighting and a canopy.

The Martello tower is to be "retained and improved" for cultural, heritage and/or artistic use.

At the northern end of the park a proposed sports facility, described as a multiple use games area is to be developed. Further north again a new boardwalk and bridge will be built around the Williamstown Lagoon.

In addition to Blackrock Park the area covered by the new plan includes Booterstown railway station and a portion of the adjoining bird marsh on which it is proposed to put a boardwalk.

According to the county council's executive parks superintendent Aidan J ffrench, the new plan is a "comprehensive statement of a new vision for Blackrock Park."

He said ornamental gardens, a footbridge and viewing deck as well as the creation of new wetlands would improve biodiversity while ensuring the park was open to "the widest possible diversity of park users".

Mr ffrench, whose design for an "octopus's garden" at Salthill in the same area won awards for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council some years ago, described the plans as "conceptual in nature" and added the council is inviting the public to make contributions and observations, as part of a non-statutory, public consultation process.

The plan will be on public display for a six week period, commencing on Monday, September 3rd. It envisages a phased approach to the implementation of the proposals over a five- to seven-year construction period.

The plan is also available for viewing on the council's website:  www.dlrcoco.ie