New Play Space at Finsbury Park, Dundrum Now Open!

The newly upgraded play space at Finsbury Park, Dundrum, was officially opened this week by Cllr. Jim O'Leary, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and features a variety of inclusive and accessible play elements designed to foster adventure, creativity, and social connection for the whole community. The play space, which was developed in consultation with local community members and youth groups, has several innovative features. These include a play train with a slide, an ability trampoline, a hammock swing, a scooter track, a kickout area for soccer practice, and a social hub with seating and bike/scooter parking.

Speaking at the official opening, Cllr. Jim O'Leary, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. said: 

“The new play space in Finsbury Park is a welcoming place for family and friends and now makes the park a special place for gathering. It was delivered through consultation with the local community and youth groups and was prioritised in the dlr Play Policy due to the high child population age range in the area. We hope that local children will enjoy this new inclusive, accessible and adventurous play space for many years to come.”

The play area includes 13 exciting play elements, such as: 

• A play train with slide
• Ability trampoline
• Hammock swing
• Embankment slide
• Scooter track
• Social hub with seating, picnic benches, and bike/scooter parking
• Retained kickabout area with a Tech Ball table (installation coming soon)
• Additional park upgrades including a new entrance, park benches, planting, improved pathway surfaces, a social hub, drainage solutions for path flooding, and a new accessible link path between Weston Park and Finsbury Park.

Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, added:

"In delivering play for all, we want to ensure that every person in the county can access play and recreation freely and safely, experience adventure, and test risk in a wide range of universally accessible settings. The dlr Play Policy was fully implemented in Finsbury Park to achieve the design of this child-led play space."

As part of its ongoing commitment to providing high-quality play spaces for all residents, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has refurbished several other playgrounds in line with the dlr Play Policy. These include:

• Belarmine
• Marlay Park Woodland Playground
• The Gallops, Soldiers & Sailors, Springhill, and Hyde Park
• Deerpark's upgraded play space featuring more inclusive and natural play elements
• Brand new inclusive play space at Kilcross, Sandyford.

Looking ahead to 2025, the council has planned refurbishment projects at Carysfort Park (Blackrock), Pearse Park (Sallynoggin), Clonmore Park (Stillorgan), and Patrick Doyle Park (Milltown). Public consultations for these projects will begin soon, with completion anticipated by Q4 2025. Consultation for new play spaces at Clonkeen Park and Meadowbrook/Ludford took place in December 2024 and January 2025. Tenders have now been invited for the Clonkeen Park play space and will also be invited for the Meadowbrook/Ludford project in the coming weeks, with both set to be completed by Q4 2025.