There has been a warm local welcome for the new playground at Darndale Park, which has been delivered in consultation with the community.
The playground provides a range of facilities which will encourage and support active play for children.
Features are designed to promote imaginative and constructive play – so important to young children.
There is also equipment to encourage group play and socialisation, in addition to inclusive and accessible play pieces.
Dublin City Council’s Parks Service and Play Development Officer held consultations with local children and a local crèche before going to tender.
Safety, accessibility and a range of equipment especially for the youngest visitors, but with some more challenging items for adventurous children, were highlighted as the main requirements.
Once a contractor had been appointed, design options were brought to the Darndale Together Community Representative Forum for discussion and feedback was incorporated into the final layout.
The forum meets regularly to influence a Darndale Together action plan dedicated to the needs of local people.
The Darndale Together Community Representative Forum discusses improvements in the safety, health, happiness and wellbeing of each member of the Darndale community.
Dr Jack Nolan, chair of the Darndale Implementation Oversight group (IOG), the community focused initiative of Dublin City Council for the area, of which the Community Representative Forum is part, welcomed the opening of the important facility.
And he praised local residents for their support as well as thanking the Council’s Parks Service and Play Development Officer for their work managing the project through to construction.
“This is a significant development for children in Darndale,” said Dr Nolan.
“I am certain the new playground will be popular, and I wish local children many happy hours of play there in the years to come.”
The playground is a good example of the Council’s commitment to implementing its Play Strategy 2022-2027 – ‘Everywhere, Any Day, You Can Play!’ and it was funded both by DCC and a considerable contribution from the Department of Health and the HSE’s Sláintecare programme.
