Chapelizod mum's four-year playground campaign finally pays off
The newly opened Chapelizod playground not only stands out as a great family-friendly amenity, but embodies the power of community activism.
This new play facility nestled within the scenic Liffey Valley Park is finally here thanks to a campaign by Chapelizod local Roisin Walsh. As a mother-of-two on maternity leave in the midst of the Covid pandemic, Roisin was struck by the urgent need for a walkable playground to serve the growing community.
Having lived in the village since she was ten years old, Roisin remembered a time when there were two playgrounds nearby, but they weren’t maintained over the years and were eventually removed by Dublin City Council. Now, as a thriving community filled with life and activity, Roisin took it upon herself to highlight just how much an outdoor play facility in Chapelizod would benefit parents and children alike.
Roisin explained that to take her kids to the nearest playground in Ballyfermot would require a complicated car trip with booster seats in tow and that it was “just not practical” for a lot of parents in the village. “I thought, I’m living in Chapelizod 30 years and when we moved here there were two playgrounds. It was at a time when developments were going up and there were so many children in Chapelizod again. I thought ‘can we not do something about this?’” she asked.
So, in September 2021, Roisin took to change.org and called on the council to “keep the momentum of restoration in the village alive” and provide a playground for the local children. “It was toward the end of Covid and I remember I didn’t want to be bringing my kids into a play centre. I wanted to retain the fresh air and be able to walk somewhere,” she said.
It didn’t take long for the petition to amass hundreds of signatures and it was clear that Roisin had tapped into an issue that was incredibly important to people in the village. Considering this, local representatives soon got on board, and Roisin highlighted how then-Councillor Sophie Nicoullaud and others ensured it got on the agenda. While the Council responded positively to motions for a Chapelizod playground, Roisin was eager for the actual plans to be made and for the budget to be set aside. “After I finished maternity leave, we took turns in the mother and baby group to just keep it out there,” she said.
With help from other mothers in the community, Roisin explained that they finally decided on a location for the park and, after several years of campaigning, things had moved in a positive direction. However, the best was yet to come, as the Council not only endeavoured to deliver a new playground, but really brought the community onboard for the planning process.
This involved public consultation with over 80 children drawn locally from St. Patrick’s and St. Laurence's National Schools and 139th Scout Troop in Chapelizod. The local children actually became a part of the design team as their feedback influenced its two main priorities: a strong connection to nature and inclusivity for children of all abilities.
“They took everything onboard and it was really sweet the way the kids got involved,” Roisin said. “I think the kids really feel ownership of it.”
When the official opening came last Wednesday, Roisin said it felt genuinely amazing to know that this playground would not only be enjoyed by her own children but by families for generations to come. “Listening to the speeches, I couldn’t believe that they were mentioning me. I nearly started crying,” she said.
Roisin commended the tight-knit community of Chapelizod for really coming together on this issue and ensuring that, no matter how many years passed, they never stopped fighting for the playground. But that’s not the end for community activism in the area, as Roisin highlighted their support for the Safe Steps programme, getting lollipop people to make the roads safer, and addressing changes in their bus service.
Through small victories like this, Roisin embodied the very ethos of community spirit and helped make a small difference that will be felt decades into the future. “It’s very rare that you actually get to affect some kind of change and have a positive impact. It was so emotional and to have added to it a little bit with my involvement was just amazing.”
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