Council confirms plans for a new playground at Kilmore West in Coolock

Dublin City Council’s plans for several new play facilities in Kilmore West near the current recreational centre include a long-sought playground.

That would be among a cluster of proposed amenities, including a new six-lane swimming pool, and two multi-use games areas.

Councillors in the area have been pushing for a playground for at least six years. Independent Councillor John Lyons first asked about it in 2017.

Last month, a spokesperson for Dublin City Council said the proposed location for the playground was on an open space close to the Kilmore Recreation Centre on the southside of Oscar Traynor Road.

Lyons asked the council to look elsewhere, and maybe drop that site in favour of another nearby on the other side of the community garden.

Council managers said they would consider that. “This is great news for the area,” says Lyons, by phone on Tuesday.

“It’s absolutely brilliant to see it,” says Green Party Councillor Donna Cooney. “It’s been long awaited.”

At a meeting of the North Central Area Committee on Monday, councillors also agreed to a motion tabled by Labour Councillor Alison Gilliland requesting a report on all plans for social and recreational infrastructure in Kilmore West.

“So that we can ensure joined-up thinking as to where we are physically locating what and why and have a set of coherent plans that can be brought to the local community for consultation by one lead co-ordinator,” it said.

A long path

In 2022, Lyons tabled a motion calling on the council to provide a playground for the area.

It was agreed by all local councillors, even though the council officials’ response at the time was that Kilmore West didn’t need a playground because the children could walk to other areas instead.

Councillors said they couldn’t do that safely or easily and shouldn’t have to. “There should be a play area within easy walking access of every child in this city,” said Cooney, the Green Party councillor, at the time.

Fianna Fáil Councillor Racheal Batten said Kilmore West could probably use two or three playgrounds because so many children live there.

Later, when the council proposed a location, the spot they picked was facing onto the busy Oscar Traynor Road, says Lyons by phone on Tuesday. Parents were concerned that it was unsafe to put a playground so near the main road, he said.

In November, he tabled a motion to the North Central Area calling for further consultation to find a better spot.

He pitched the idea of a space on the far side of the community garden. “There are railings there and it’s a good bit further in from the Oscar Traynor Road,” he says.

Council managers are open to moving the site, says Lyons. He understands that there will be further consultation on that but that it won’t delay the project.

An official council response to councillors said that “commitments were given to the area committee that the playground designers would be charged with redesigning the playground and relocating same within the open space but also not impeding the future development of the proposed swimming pool.”

Other proposals

At the North Central Area Committee on Monday 11 December, Gilliland’s motion called for a full report on all sports and recreational facilities planned for the area.

In addition to the playground, the council has been considering proposals for a new swimming pool, a leisure centre, two multi-use games areas, an all-weather pitch.

On a large green area that already houses the Kilmore Recreation Centre, is a soccer club and pigeon club, and a community garden.

The council has said it is exploring the possibility of closing the existing pool at the Northside Shopping Centre and building a six-lane swimming pool attached to the Kilmore Recreation Centre. It estimates this would cost around €10 million.

It is looking into funding options available and hopes to submit a planning application in 2024, says Lyons. First, they have to tease out if there is space for all of the proposed initiatives on the one site, he said.

Lyons says he understands that council officials intend to press ahead with the leisure centre and two multi-use games areas – small pitches and courts that can be used for five aside and basketball – will go ahead.

But it is unclear whether an all-weather pitch which some locals hope for will be part of the final plans.

“A report of the challenges of locating a full-sized all-weather facility in the area was previously submitted to the area committee not least of which is the impact of the proposals on protected species,” said Fergus O’Carroll, a senior executive parks superintendent, in response to Gilliland’s motion.

The council is getting a survey done to look at how Brent Geese use the green area, he said. Once that’s done, council managers will come back to the councillors and local clubs with a proposal, said O’Carroll.