Áit Urbanism + Landscape were commissioned by Dublin City Council to work in collaboration with their in-house team to develop a masterplan proposal for the park which is currently a linear stretch of open green space located between Suir Road Bridge and Fatima Luas Stop, Dublin 8. The proposed design of St. James’ Linear Park puts forth a new holistic vision for the park that draws upon pre-existing assets of connectivity, maturity of the landscape and adjacency to institutional centres. The proposals have been developed through extensive public consultation with local stakeholders and residents.
The masterplan proposal reimagines this underutilised space to provide for a multi-functional public amenity and neighbourhood park that will be an invaluable asset to the local communities of Dublin 8 and the city as a whole. It populates it with active and recreational uses, safe spaces for communities to gather, communicate, garden and exercise. The park will form a green infrastructural link and green corridor connecting into a wider network of open spaces within the city, promoting biodiversity and habitat creation. The widening and realignment of the existing path network will provide for a wider and safer shared use for pedestrians and cyclists. Prominent arrival platforms and gateways to St. James’ Hospital and the National Children’s Hospital from Fatima and Rialto Luas Stops are proposed, demonstrating high quality hard and soft landscaping finishes. The park will provide active and passive uses for all age groups including formal and informal play facilities and skateable elements. The design proposals aim to discourage anti-social behaviour within the park as a result of increased passive surveillance.
The palette of existing trees will, for the most part, be retained. Ground modelling at the eastern edge of the site, which formed part of the Luas construction works, will be modified to create an amphitheatre space. The heritage of the site will be incorporated into bespoke elements through the park, referencing the canal and barge associations along with a specific palette of plant species to add seasonal interest and support biodiversity. It is envisaged that once complete, the design proposals will provide a safe, usable and inviting amenity in the Liberties, a park that through high-quality place-making will become integral to the local community and a destination in its own right.
