Clongriffin residents call for more accessibility at Fr Collins Park

The Clongriffin Community Association has written to all Dublin City Councillors and local TDs asking them to help develop Fr Collins Park into an “inclusive and accessible place for all residents regardless of abilities.”

The community group, which consists of local residents says the response it has received so far “has been extremely positive” and is hoping the campaign gains traction with local representatives.

The association is calling for the installation of wheelchair accessible car parking spots as well as an ability swing for wheelchair users.

“Following the huge success of the installation of a new ability swing in Cabinteely Park by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

“We, the Clongriffin Community Association, are writing to you to support our request for one for Fr Collins Park, Clongriffin, Dublin 13,” the letter says.

“We are also requesting the installation of designated wheelchair parking spaces at Fr Collins Park, which currently does not meet statutory requirements as outlined under Part M 2010 Building Regulations Access and Use.

“This requires five percent of car spaces to be accessible car parking spaces.”

The letter says that as Clongriffin is a “growing community,” the neighbourhood needs “facilities to match the diverse needs.

“We now have a CRC day centre in Clongriffin, both adults and children from this facility use our park daily.

“St Michael House residential services in Coolock and Baldoyle also use the park daily.

“One of our residents, Christian (12) is a wheelchair user and uses our park every day.

“We feel he should experience the joy of his local park like all other children do in our community.

“Christian is extremely popular in Clongriffin, he hosted a bake sale for our community on May 22 and raised €350 for Temple St.

“Currently there is no ability swing for Christian and his friends to use on the northside of Dublin.

“The facilities in the park are currently non-inclusive, this lack of universal access to such amenities infers a negative message to the community and indeed young residents such as Christian.”

The letter goes on to say that the Clongriffin Community Association is an  “all-inclusive group, we want to make Clongriffin an inclusive and accessible place for all residents to live regardless of abilities.

“If we do not have these facilities people will be excluded from our community, this is not part of our ethos.

“Our association organises four yearly events: Street Feast, Eid Festival, Halloween Parade and our Christmas party.

“This year we have set up a new Tidy Towns Committee and took part in the National Spring Clean in April.

“Many residents turned out to clean up Clongriffin and Fr Collins Park.”

The group says that Fr Collins Park is in constant use and has become a “centre point of our community.

“With the support of the community, we feel the addition of an ability swing and designated wheelchair parking spaces will benefit Clongriffin and the wider community.”