07 / LANDSCAPE
PHOTO BY ANDREAS KRAPPWEIS
CHANGE UNDERFOOT
Dr Christy Boylan examines how Ireland’s parks and green spaces are evolving to meet new challenges
T
he original concept of public parks was influenced by the poor quality of life being experienced by people working long hours in UK factories during the 19th century. Employers were anxious that employees work performance would not deteriorate and outdoor spaces were seen as one option for addressing this. At that time, they were not sufficiently aware of the importance of recreation, and indeed, games such as football were forbidden in public parks, being considered disruptive of the peace and solitude. By the 20th century public parks were regarded as being an essential part of an urban complex. In general, they were intened to cater for active and passive recreational pursuits with trees being viewed as positive enhancements to street fabric. In Ireland, parks were, and still are managed by the local authorities (with the exception of national and historic parks, which are managed by the Office of Public Works) and public appreciation was usually a given because the standard of maintenance was generally high. In the era prior to the availability of herbicides and pesticides, labour was much less expensive. Generally, staff numbers were sufficient to deal with the day to day tasks, as well as developing new areas
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during the summer period. Flowerbed displays highlighted the local authority’s role in enhancing the city and they gave much pleasure to its citizens, as well as job satisfaction to employees in Parks Departments. Many people expressed approval that rates on their dwellings were going towards such work. During this period much park development was undertaken. And then things changed. In 1977, the Government, under Jack Lynch as Taoiseach, abolished rates on private dwellings, which meant that local authorities would then be supported by the Rate Support Grant from the Government funds. This reduced their ability to raise funds locally and made them more dependent on funding from other sources such as fees for planning applications. “We do not have the funding” became the common answer to requests from the public for improvements. During the recession of 1989, staff numbers were reduced by approximately 25%. In response to these changes, Parks Superintendents adopted techniques such as the use of herbicides for weed control as well as changes in maintenance regimes for grasslands, by allowing some areas to become more natural and encouraging wildflowers. Choice of machinery also became more important and larger mowing equipment was purchased for large parks.
HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / February 2014
