The decision by Dublin Corporation to acquire Dingle's Field for a park was a most welcome one, for which I was glad to be able to secure the support of the Green Party councillors on Dublin Corporation. The site is valuable as a piece of green space and the site is too small for a housing estate of any kind. Together with the cottages and the existing park, it forms a triangular space which came into existence in the last century when Crumlin Road was built as a bypass to Old County Road, which was formerly the main road to Tallaght and originally to Rathcoole as well.
The two cottages are the remains of what was once a market-gardening area. When campaigning for this open space, it was fortunate that the Association was able to get support from An Taisce, who expressed the view: "The survival of these rural buildings in a built up area is remarkable and they form an important part of our heritage. Even simple buildings from the past make an important contribution to the environment of a modern suburb.
"The land attached to the one of the cottages has been landscaped as a public open space. The same should apply to the grounds of the other cottage. In addition steps need to be taken to secure the long term future of the buildings."
Together with the Health Centre, the Shopping Centre and Garda Station, and Loreto College, the park will contribute to the public space which is a break in the two-storey housing which surrounds the area. Public spaces, shopping areas and so on are features which give an identity to an neighbourhood and help to create a sense of community. And green spaces have a particular role to play by helping the atmosphere, refreshing the eyesight and creating opportunities for wildlife such as birds.
The above article was published in the Residents' Association newsletter in December 1997. One aspect not mentioned is the design for the housing scheme, which would have meant that the view from the Crumlin Shopping Centre was of the backs and gable-ends of the houses. It is a feature of many recent housing schemes that houses are separated from roads for reasons such as safety. However, it would be better to make the roads safer - something which is much needed in any case. Planners need to get back to building streets: that is, houses should look out onto roads and not be hidden away from them. If the houses are kept separate, the streets are left to cars and to crime. Building houses on streets promotes safety and security as well as being pleasing to the eye.
John Goodwillie