The Office of Public Works (OPW) has set out a range of changes in terms of access and amenity use of Phoenix Park. As part of this process, the OPW has increased the space available to cyclists and pedestrian users of the Phoenix Park by taking over what was traditionally vehicle space. In doing so it has increased by 33% of the amenity facilities adjacent to Chesterfield Avenue, the main artery through the Park.
Existing paths on either side of Chesterfield have become pedestrian-only, doubling the pedestrian space, to facilitate social distancing and accommodate the huge numbers of walkers currently enjoying the Park.
The OPW is claiming the hard shoulder as a new cycleway which will be 25% wider than the existing inside cycle lane and will result in an additional 7kms of recreational space on either side of Chesterfield Avenue. This increase of 33% in pathways and cycle lanes through the centre of the Park from Park Gate Street to Castleknock Gate provides improved opportunities for cyclists and easier access to and from the city centre.
Some of the new initiatives include:
- Over 70’s and medically vulnerable are being given priority at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre Walled Garden from 10am-1pm daily. Priority parking is also available at Ashtown Demesne.
- No parking on Chesterfield Avenue will be permitted at the current time.
- Two new dedicated cycle lanes in place in the hard shoulder of Chesterfield Avenue.
- Early risers and late exercises can avail of special allocated parking at the Upper Glen Car Park.
- Other car parks will not open until 10am each day to prioritise visitors and recreational users of the Park
- There is a new shared recreation space on Furze Road for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Additional footpath space has been provided on the North Road from Cabra Gate to Garda HQ.
Vehicular access to the Phoenix Park remains unchanged and access to the Park is via Castleknock Gate and Park Gate Street only. Any future changes to vehicular access to the Phoenix Park will be made in consultation with An Garda Síochána, Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council and others. Future decisions about vehicles routing through the Phoenix Park are part of the traffic policy of the city and are not made by the OPW unilaterally.
These temporary safety measures will be regularly reviewed by OPW in line with HSE Guidelines and Government advice.
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