More park rangers are urgently needed in the Dublin 15 area to stop anti-social behaviour and vandalism, says local Sinn Fein councillor Angela Donnelly.
Donnelly was speaking after the playground and toilets in Millenium Park in Blanchardstown were defaced and damaged last week.
The children’s slides and climbing frames were covered in graffiti while several toilets were tarnished by racist and obscene graffiti.
Donnelly says that Fingal County Council has done tremendous work in the parks in the Dublin 15 area but “this work must be protected by having more park wardens on duty,” she says.
“The opening of Shakleton Gardens is a great addition to the community, Hartstown Park has been upgraded and the local community are delighted to have these amenities in their areas.
“The Millennium Park is the park I visit most often, and the upgrades being undertaken are fantastic.
“Stone walls have been rebuilt by a stonemason, there are two sculptures carved from trees, new signs with information and the area’s history are displayed, wildflower meadows are beginning to bloom and there is a path widening piece of work about to commence,” Donnelly says.
However, at any one time there are two park wardens working in the Dublin 15 Operational area.
Donnelly says that “this covers all of the parks in Dublin 15 except St Catherine’s park.
“This is just not enough.
“When the playground was first opened there was always a park warden in it.
“The park wardens are stretched too thin and cannot possibly provide enough surveillance.
“We need more park rangers, and we need a stationary park ranger in areas that are getting damaged constantly.
“A park ranger stationed in the Millennium Park during the summer months would really help alleviate the situation.
I understand that the gardai are investigating the damage caused to the Millennium Park and Fingal County Council have been very proactive in rectifying and repairing any damage, but this is not the first time the playground has been vandalised and unfortunately it will not be the last.”