Press release
Minister O’Donovan welcomes progress on projects at the Phoenix Park:
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Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Patrick O’Donovan visited the Phoenix Park on Wednesday, 26 May 2021, to view a number of ongoing projects including the restoration of the historic entrances and gates of the Park, installation of new bins and the completed works to the North Road. Following his visit, Minister O’Donovan said:
“I am delighted the road works on the North Road have been completed ahead of schedule and that the restoration of the historic gates and entrances is almost complete. The Phoenix Park enjoys a huge popularity, and the OPW is responding to increased footfall over the past months, and going into the summer, by installing new solar compactor bins, additional benches and bicycle stands in the park, which I’m sure will be much appreciated by visitors.”
The North Road reopened today following essential road repairs to the road surface and adjoining footpaths. The project involved the removal and disposal of existing road surface and relaying of new road surface, taking up, cleaning and relaying of existing granite kerbs and the removal and disposal of existing footpath and relaying of new footpath surface. Other ancillary works included the installation of traffic calming ramps along the 2.5 kilometre stretch of road. The road has remained closed since Monday, 12 April, and the Office of Public Works (OPW) is delighted to reopen the road earlier than the previously expected date of 18 June. The cost of the project is approximately €700,000 excluding VAT. While the newly resurfaced road and footpaths are reopened again to the public, some works are still ongoing at Cabra Gate and these involve the rehanging of the restored historic gates and the surfacing to the road and footpaths adjacent to them. This gate will remain closed for a further 1 to 2 weeks.
The restoration of the historic gates and entrances continues on site. Currently works are either completed or have commenced at all seven of the entrances to be restored and the project is due to be completed in August. The entrances were originally installed between 1833 and 1906 and this is the first time that they underwent major conservation and restoration.
The restoration works at Knockmaroon Gate and North Circular Road are complete, while Cabra Gate and Grangegorman Gate on Blackhorse Avenue will be completed in the next 2 weeks.
Today, the OPW commenced a 1-year trial of solar compactor bins in the Phoenix Park. The trial is for 40 units at multiple locations across the Park. The capacity of these bins is five times greater than the current bin stock in the Phoenix Park. The 40 units of solar compactor bins have an overall capacity of 20,000 litres of litter between services. These bins are fully sealed so wildlife cannot remove litter from them. A similar trial will soon commence in St Stephen’s Green Park.
The OPW has received some requests for additional seating in the Park over the past few months due to the increased usage of the Park. We have taken on board these requests and are currently installing new benches throughout the Park. These benches are in keeping with the historic design of the Park and will provide some additional areas for park users to rest as they enjoy the surrounds of the Park.
We will also be installing additional bicycle stands in the coming months and we would welcome submissions from Park users to where additional bicycle stands are required. Please send suggestions for locations to superintendent.park@opw.ie and we will consider all requests.
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The Phoenix Park is a historic landscape of international importance and one of the largest designed landscapes in any European city. It was originally established as a Royal deer park over 350 years ago and its historic continuity, together with its vast scale, urban setting and tranquillity, are the attributes that define it. Today, the Park extends to over 700 hectares and represents a unique natural and cultural landscape that is both a historic park and a city park. It provides a setting for a range of activities and amenities and acts as a location for a number of important public institutions and residences.
The Park is a complex place comprising many components that serve a variety of functions. It is used by large numbers of people and is also a heavily trafficked route between the centre of the city and outlying suburbs. In recent decades, the growth of Dublin has significantly altered the position and use of The Phoenix Park and affected its role and potential.
The Park has over twenty-five kilometres of roads, seventeen kilometres of permanent cycle lanes, twenty-seven kilometres of surfaced footpaths, eleven kilometres of perimeter wall, eight vehicular gates, six pedestrian gates and over 2,000 surface carpark spaces.
The Park is a significant biodiversity resource for the greater Dublin area and includes 24 different habitats, over 550 wild fallow deer, over 220 hectares of woodlands & trees, 380 hectares of unique urban grasslands and supports 50% of all mammal species found in Ireland and about 35% of bird species.
To plan your visit or find out more, go to phoenixpark.ie .