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DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL is set to leave the gates to a Dublin park open 24/7 from today, with a previous decision to implement the same policy at another nearby park having “resolved the problem of anti-social behaviour”.
Dartmouth Square Park, located between Upper Leeson Street and Ranelagh Road in the south of the city, will be left unlocked throughout the night and the council says it will monitor the situation at the park with gardaí and local residents.
It comes after TheJournal.ie reported earlier this week that Dublin City Council advises members of the public not to enter a public park after dark and adding that it was “common sense”.
In one such instance, Green Party councillor Hazel Chu asked if solar lighting could be installed along pathways in Herbert Park in Ballsbridge.
The council replied to her that it would be “inappropriate” to provide public lighting within a park as it would give “a false sense of safety and encourage use after dark”.
Chu said she felt it was a “no brainer” to install lights in this particular park, and said an unwillingness from the council to do could be an indication “we’re not utilising our parks properly”.
However, leaving gates open at a park without providing public lighting has actually helped to curb anti-social behaviour at Herbert Park.
A Dublin City Council spokesperson told TheJournal.ie: “About five years ago, due to anti-social gatherings in Herbert Park a decision was made in cooperation with the gardai to leave the gates unlocked.
This resolved the problem of anti-social behaviour and the gates have remained unlocked.
The spokesperson added that the same measure would be implemented at Dartmouth Park from the end of February.
“From the end of this month the gates of Dartmouth Park will also be left unlocked and the situation will be monitored in consultation with the gardai and local residents,” the spokesperson added.
Chu told TheJournal.ie that while she was supportive of keeping the park open, local residents had made contact to express their concerns.
“It’s a lovely park, and actually quite well-lit anyway so I don’t see a problem there,” she said. “People go for runs, walk their dogs. But residents nearby are unhappy with the potential for anti-social behaviour there. The gardaí and the council need to monitor it closely.”
The Green Party councillor said it was important to invest in and protect public amenities, particularly in making it available for people who may live in the surrounding area in accommodation that doesn’t have its own open spaces.
She added: “I think it’s a good idea [to leave the gates open on the park]. While I have conveyed that to residents, I do hear their concerns. We need to wait and see now how it goes.”
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No government and we’re opening an unsupervised injection site handy for the lads clever an the greens want solar lights GWTF
@Tommy the postman: we do have a government? The government is the (up to) 15 people who hold cabinet positions. These people stay in place until a new Taoiseach is elected and a new government is then formed. So… Shane Ross is still Minister of Transport, Eoin Murphy, Simon Harris, Regina Doherty (etc) are still ministers and we still have a government.
I walk my dogs daily in the park in the dark. I’d like to think they’d offer me protection but they’d probably run at the first hint of trouble. Only ever issues around Halloween and the stupid bangers are going off. Seeing as it gets dark by five in the winter it’s almost impossible to not have to go into a park in the dark. For me anyhow
Open all parks simple, I’d love walk my dog when I want. I’m a responsibil owner, people will always get in if and when wanted simple.
I can’t imagine a herbert, dartmouth, or phoenix park being created today. They’re from a certain era.
@Pen Name: Tymon Park was only created in the late 1980’s. It is a fantastic amenity
@Pen Name: Try St Catherine’s in Lucan, Leixlip. Open about fifteen years now and probably around the size of Marley Park.
@Pen Name: Cabinteely Park Mahahide Castle Newbridge Demesne were created in the period 1980 __2000.Foresight shown in this period it similar to the time when Central Park was created in the USA.
With increasing population ,more parks of this type are needed
Sure they need somewhere to sleep all the homeless!!
I don’t understand..why are they being left open if they’re not safe to go after dark, people shouldn’t go there and they’re not going to light them properly..just lock em then?
@Del Bear: Locking them makes no difference to antisocial behaviour in them. It just means sightings has to be paid to go around twice a day locking/unlocking them
I do hope they lock the swings or else ban all FG Td’s from entering them after dark.
At least it’s somewhere safe for a homeless person to pitch a tent in the area without the fear of being picked up by a digger..
Open the parks so all the homeless can be hidden from general public as not to embarrass the political incompetent
I wonder which bright spark saw this as the solution to the homeless scandal.
Anyone going into a park
in the dark
even for a lark
ain’t a bright spark.
E. Jarvis O’Thrib
Hazel, how is the park “well lit”? There’s not a light in it and its VERY dark at night. Are you sure you’re talking about the right place?
All I’m saying is as off 13:00 hours on Sunday there is nothing on the rte news app regarding the poll in the times. It’s a bit wierd.
They obviously have different kind of common sense compare to us – the stupid kind.
Why not light the park with solar lights ~ about the only good idea from DCC
Useless and lazy
have your say