Council eyes turbine-run €18m sports park
Five wind turbines will provide the electricity for the pioneering €18 million state-of-the-art facility, located on a 55-acre green space at Fr Collins Park in north Dublin.
It will have a lake and promenade, several football pitches, running tracks and picnic and play areas.
Spaces will also be provided for outdoor performing arts, with large water features and a sustainable drainage system. Reed beds will recycle and clean water for the lake.
Construction work and upgrading of facilities at the Baldoyle park, estimated to take 18 months, is due to begin shortly.
Moves are also afoot for a dedicated city centre youth cafe where young people, who are not interested in sports, can “hang out”. It is planned to have it running next year.
Lord Mayor Paddy Bourke said the council was committed to providing youth cafes for young people to congregate in a safe, alcohol and drugs-free environment.
“I feel strongly that this will help young people to stay away from antisocial behaviour and petty crime,” he said.
Outlining a range of developments to benefit the city’s communities, Mr Bourke said: “I and all my colleagues in Dublin City Council, aim to seriously enhance people’s quality of life by strengthening their areas and providing them with all the facilities and services they need for a vibrant community to exist and grow.”
