The Liberties greening strategy, eight years on

The Liberties greening strategy was unveiled by Dublin City Council in 2015 with a goal to increase the number of new parks and amenities in the area.

The greening strategy is an ongoing investment into the Liberties to make the historical working class industrial and residential area a more recreational place for those living in it.

“The Greening Strategy is a combination of proposals for new green-spaces, enhancement of key streets and civic spaces; refurbishment and enhancements to existing green spaces, greening measures for streets and measures to improve linkages and legibility through the area,” said Dublin City Council in its initial plan.

Most of the green areas in this part of Dublin were churchyards or graveyards, until the creation of St Patrick’s Park at the start of the 20th century.

The main flagship projects associated with the recent greening programme were parks at Cork Street/Weaver Square and on Bridgefoot Street, adding a recreational area to high-density residential areas.

The mission spelled out in the strategy would see parks include a “play area, community gardens, opportunities for informal play, flexible open areas for events and passive recreation and a high proportion of greening in the form of tree planting, hedging, lawn, meadow and ground-cover planting,” according to Dublin City Council.

Weaver Park has largely delivered on its promises since its opening in 2017, including the unique feature of a much-used skate park.

Bridgefoot Park had been planned with help from the community in 2017, and after many pushbacks and delays it finally was officially opened by Lord Mayor of Dublin Allison Gilliland in May 2022.

The park contains a playground and a decent sized path circuit for dog walkers.

Bridgefoot Park, just like Weaver Park, contains a community garden. Its approaching to planting throughout the park is wild and biodiversity friendly.

Apart from those two flagship projects, the greening strategy also focuses on enhancing already existing green and recreational areas such as St Audoen’s Park.

St Audoen’s Park will see new lush plants as well as a new playground for kids in the future.

The park already contains a memorial to children who lost their lives during the 1916 Rising.

Dolphin’s Barn Village was approved for a “improvements scheme”, with the project receiving planning permission in 2018.

The area will see more trees and plant life, as well as improved street furniture.