Poppintree Park

1. General information

Location and description of the intervention

City or FUA

Dublin (FUA)

Region

Europe

Short description of the intervention

Ballymun is a suburban area on the north side of Dublin, Ireland. Originally developed in the 1960s, Ballymun was built to address Dublin’s post-war housing shortages, with iconic high-rise towers and flat complexes. However, over the years, the area faced social and economic challenges, leading to a reputation for issues such as poverty, unemployment, and lack of services.
In response, the Irish government launched the Ballymun Regeneration Project in the late 1990s. As part of the Ballymun Regeneration, Poppintree Park has been transformed into a 45-acre public space at the heart of Ireland’s celebrated urban renewal project in Ballymun Town Centre. This redevelopment followed an extensive public consultation process, incorporating input from local residents, sports clubs, community groups, and youth organizations.
Poppintree Park now offers a range of upgraded amenities, including a Tree Trail featuring 15 native tree species, enhanced biodiversity, extensive wetlands, sustainable drainage systems, and spaces for passive and active recreation. The park also features a 1.25-acre playground for children aged 0-12, an amphitheater with a permanent pond, and a fully accessible pathway network with abundant seating and viewing areas. Over 50,000 plants have been added to enhance the park’s natural beauty.
The park’s transformation, led by Ballymun Regeneration Ltd., involved significant engineering and landscaping efforts. Mitchell + Associates provided the detailed landscape design, construction drawings, and supervised the landscape works.
Completed in 2010, Phase 1 of Poppintree Park’s redevelopment represents an investment exceeding €6 million. The project includes substantial earthworks, drainage systems, gabion walls, three limestone-paved entrance plazas, structural retaining walls, a cantilevered pond walkway, diverse path surfaces, and high-quality playground construction. (1-7, 10)

Website of the intervention

https://kilwex.ie/portfolio/poppintree-park/

Principal problems

Climate-Related Hazards

Urban flooding (stormwater)

Resource Scarcity and Competition

Water stress (increased demand)

Implementation area characterization

Climate

Temperate ( Humid subtropical, Hot-summer Mediterranean, Warm-summer Mediterranean, Warm-temperate with dry winter)

Ecosystem

Fresh water wetlands

Urban or built environment

Address

Balbutcher Ln, Ballymun
Dublin
Ireland

Location

The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).

Area boundary (map-based)

NBS area image

Source of NBS area image

Proposed plan of Poppintree Park (Ref 8. p.69)

Total area

110000.00m²

NBS area

110000.00m²

Area description

Urban (main city)

Type of area before implementation of the NBS

Freshwater setting (e.g. river, channel, lake, pond)

Public Greenspace Area

Timeline of intervention

Start date of the intervention (planning process)

1998

Start date of intervention (implementation process)

2004

End date of the intervention

2010

Present stage of the intervention

Completed

2. Objectives of the intervention

Objectives of the intervention

Goals of the intervention

To reduce flood risk (caused by severe storms combined with global and local climate change effects and rapid high-density development in river catchments) through retention and detention areas in line with the EU Floods Directive and the City Development Plan.
To manage stormwater effectively and minimize the impact of surface water runoff.
To enhance recreational facilities with a focus on universal accessibility.
To promote and increase biodiversity across the site through introduction of native species
To involve the local community in decision making processes (2,7)

Key Priorities

Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation)

Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)

Sustainability challenge(s) addressed

Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)

Climate change adaptation

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)

Habitat and biodiversity restoration

Water management (SDG 6)

Flood protection

Stormwater and rainfall management and storage

Health and well-being (SDG 3)

Creation of opportunities for recreation

Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)

Inclusive governance

Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)

Social justice and equity

Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?

Implement sustainable urban drainage schemes to manage stormwater

Restore rivers and other fresh water bodies to reduce flood or drought risk

What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?

Genetic-focused

What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?

Restore native species

Implementation activities and NBS focus

Implementation activities

Poppintree Park is situated within the zone for the biggest urban regeneration scheme at the time in Europe – Ballymun. The redevelopment aimed to create low-density housing for residents of Ballymun’s tower blocks, requiring additional land from Poppintree Park. This expansion raised stormwater management issues, as local drainage feeds into the River Tolka, which is prone to flooding. To mitigate this, part of Poppintree Park was redesigned to include wetlands and stormwater storage, featuring a retention pond, detention ponds, and a multi-use basin to manage excess water during storms. A trail highlighting 15 native tree varieties was created, and over 50,000 plants were added (2). Various wetlands were installed, including a permanent retention pond, two detention ponds, and a large basin. The large basin, initially designed for recreational use, was adapted to function as an additional stormwater detention area(7). A rain garden was added, using natural plantings to absorb and filter runoff, aligning with SuDS principles to reduce environmental impacts (4). A 1.25-acre playground for children, an amphitheatre, and a completely accessible pathway network were built to promote passive and active recreation (2). The park's redevelopment involved extensive public consultation with local residents, sports clubs, and community groups (7). The new park opened in 2010. It won a Local Authority Management Award in 2011 and received a Green Flag in 2015. (7)

Type of NBS project

Maintenance and management of urban nature

Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks)

Updated management structure of existing green spaces (e.g. parks)

Creation of semi-natural blue areas

Creation of lakes or ponds

Implementation of green areas for water management (e.g. rain gardens)

Creation of artificial wetlands

Protection of natural ecosystems

Protecton and enhancement of wetlands (other types than peatlands and mangroves, e.g. seagrass)

Habitat restoration

3. NBS domains, ES and scale

NBS domain and interventions

Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented

Blue infrastructure

Lakes/ponds

In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors

Green areas for water management

Rain gardens

Sustainable urban drainage systems

Parks and urban forests

Large urban parks or forests

Amenities offered by the NBS

Benches and drinking water stations

Playgrounds

Viewing and outlook points

Design elements for well-being

Visual elements (e.g., expansive views, scenic views, natural light, diverse vegetation)

Auditory elements (e.g., birdsong, water features, quiet areas, rustling leaves)

Olfactory elements (e.g., floral scents, earthy smells)

Tactile elements (e.g., natural materials like wood or stone, exposure to sunlight)

Services

Expected ecosystem services delivered

Regulating services

Flood regulation

Habitat and supporting services

Habitats for species

Cultural services

Recreation

Scale

Spatial scale

Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level

Beneficiaries

Demographics in implementation area

In the context of reduced incomes and rising poverty, Ballymun remains one of the most disadvantaged communities in Dublin, with high rates of unemployment (11 p. 2). Reflecting the high level of unemployment in the area (nearly four times the national average) and the fact that 75% of those employed described their position as being General or Clerical Operatives (i.e. not at supervisory or management levels), household income is significantly lower than the national average. 80% of households in Ballymun have weekly household incomes below the state average of €666.72 and in fact the majority of households (over 60%) have weekly incomes below €350 (12).

Socio-economic profile of the area

Low-income

Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts

Unknown

Non-government actors

Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)

Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches

Private sector/Corporate/Business

Citizens or community groups

Primary Beneficiaries

Citizens or community groups

Young people and children

Specify primary beneficiaries

The park’s redevelopment involved extensive public consultation with local residents, indicating that they are primary beneficiaries (4). The new 1.25-acre playground, designed for children aged 0-12, highlights a focus on family-friendly facilities (2). The redevelopment included the proposal for a new Sports Changing Building and Parks Depot, following consultations with sports and community groups (4).

Marginalized groups

Unknown

Other beneficiaries

Native plant vegetation

Endangered species (flora and fauna)

City infrastructure (e.g., reduced flooding, improved water quality)

4. Governance and financing

Governance

Governance arrangements

Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Please specify other non-government actors involved

Sport club

Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative

Ballymun Regeneration Ltd was responsible for overseeing the entire redevelopment of Ballymun, including Poppintree Park. Mitchell + Associates designed the detailed layout of the park, including extensive wetlands, playground design, and final plant selection. Dublin City Council supported public consultation and project facilitation. The redesign of the park is the culmination of an extensive public consultation process with local residents, residents associations, local forums, youth groups, sports clubs, and community groups. (1, 10).

Key actors - initiating organization

Local government/municipality

Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)

District/neighbourhood association

Citizens or community group

Private sector/corporate actor/company

Stages of citizen and community engagement

Planning and design (e.g. site selection, identification of key priorities)

Level of citizen and community engagement

Limited

Community empowerment or capacity-building initiatives

Creation of collaborative decision-making processes that actively involve community members

Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders)

Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)

Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)

Co-management/Joint management

Uncommon actors ("Missing actors")

Community & Social Groups

Youth-led organizations/ citizens

Other

Please specify other missing actor

Sports clubs (10)

Land owners

Public space owned by the city

Policy drivers

NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy

Yes

Please specify the "Regional Directive/Strategy"

Water Framework Directive (13 p. 30)

NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan

Unknown

NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan

Yes

Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"

Ballymun Regeneration Masterplan (9)

Relevant strategy or plan

Urban redevelopment plan

Mandatory or voluntary intervention

Mandatory (based on policy)

Intervention is mandatory

Spatial planning law

Enablers & Barriers

Type of enablers

Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships)

Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives.

The municipality collaborated with a private company for the implementation of this project. (1, 10)

Governace and decison-making instruments

Legislative and regulatory instruments (e.g. laws, strategies, regulations or restrictions)

Strategic instruments (e.g. GI strategies, green space strategy or plans)

Public - private business agreement (e.g. public private collaborations, public-private-partnerships (PPP))

Arrangements for governance cooperation

Formal coordination mechanisms to oversee project implementation and decision-making (e.g., multi-stakeholder steering committees, working groups)

Barriers

During the implementation of the project, several potential barriers and challenges were encountered. Safety concerns were a significant issue, with worries about hazards associated with the wetlands, particularly for children and the visually impaired. Additionally, there was criticism that the wetlands occupied space that could otherwise be used for recreational activities, such as sports, and were seen as untidy and muddy, leading to concerns about children getting their clothing dirty.

The project also faced challenges related to balancing biodiversity with public requests. There were demands to stock ponds with fish, which could potentially reduce biodiversity by introducing predators. The stocking of some ponds with Koi by the public was seen as having little benefit for either angling or biodiversity. Furthermore, unwanted pets, such as turtles, were occasionally introduced to the wetlands, causing destruction to nesting birds and contributing to the problem of invasive species.

Dumping of refuse into the ponds was another significant issue, affecting water quality and plant growth. This problem increased health and safety risks for park maintenance staff and required considerable time and effort for cleanup. Some community members continued to view wetlands as waste areas, resulting in resistance to their implementation and highlighting the need for improved education and enforcement (7).

Financing

Total cost

More than €4,000,000

Please specify total cost (EUR)

€8.0 million (1)

What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?

€8.0 million

Source(s) of funding

Public local authority budget

Type of fund(s) used

Earmarked public budget

Non-financial contribution

Yes

Who provided the non-financial contribution?

Citizens (e.g. volunteering)

Type of non-financial contribution

Provision of expertise

Co-finance for NBS

Entrepreneurship opportunities

Business models

Risk reduction model

Green densification model

Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?

Public actor (e.g. municipality)

5. Evaluation and learning

Impacts, benefits

Environmental impacts

Climate change

Storm / wave induced erosion and flooding

Expected storm / wave induced erosion and flooding

Water management and blue areas

Increased protection against flooding

Expected increased protection against flooding

Improved stormwater management

Expected improved stormwater management

Green space and habitat

Reduced biodiversity loss

Expected reduced biodiversity loss

Increased number of species present

Expected increased number of species present

Description of environmental benefits

-Storm / wave induced erosion and flooding: "Due to the ongoing concerns about flooding of the Tolka, it was decided that some of the stormwater be stored in the remaining portion of Poppintree Park. The design included for several types of wetlands: a permanent retention pond to be designed as a formal pool with steps down to it but which could fluctuate in depth by a metre; two detention ponds which were informal grassed areas but could store stormwater; a large basin with a mown lawn which could be used seasonally for kick about but which could detain water on a temporary basis and included some permanent wetland areas." (Ref. 7)
-Increased protection against flooding: "A vastly improved degree of site biodiversity, extensive wetland and sustainable drainage systems." (Ref. 2)
-Improved stormwater management: "A vastly improved degree of site biodiversity, extensive wetland and sustainable drainage systems." (Ref. 2)
-Reduced biodiversity loss: "A vastly improved degree of site biodiversity." (Ref. 2); "Biodiversity surveys show that the wetlands here are certainly performing well and that species diversity is increasing in the park." (Ref. 7)
-Increased number of species present: "Over 50,000 plants, and a completely accessible pathway network which includes extensive seating and viewing areas." (Ref. 10); "The park features an array of improved amenities including a Tree Trail highlighting 15 native tree varieties, a vastly improved degree of site biodiversity, extensive wetland and sustainable drainage systems" (Ref. 2)

Environmental impact indicators

Total number of vascular plant species protected or introduced

50000

Economic impacts

Unknown

Description of economic benefits

Unknown

Evidence for use of assessment

Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Link to monitoring/evaluation reports

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/53740922/biodiversity-action-plan-for-ba…

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

Name of any specific impact assessment tools

Unknown

Use of GIS in mapping impacts

No evidence in public records

Cost-benefit analysis

Unknown

Transparency

Meetings with stakeholders’ representatives

Inclusion of diverse stakeholders in project governance processes (e.g. planning, implementation, monitoring, etc.)

Justice

Community satisfaction

Mixed: Feedback and reports show a combination of positive and negative sentiments regarding satisfaction with the NBS project within the community.

Description of locals satisfaction with the project

There are instances where members of the public and their representatives have questioned the provision of wetlands. The main concerns expressed are: safety hazards, especially for children and the visually impaired; taking up space otherwise could be used for recreation (kick about); too untidy looking; mucky and muddy and children getting their clothing dirty playing around them (7).

Trade-offs & Negative impacts

Health, well-being and safety

Increased risk of accidents (uneven terrain, falling branches, or slippery surfaces)

Social justice and conflicts

Lack of social acceptance

Please specify Trade-offs & Negative impacts Selected

Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement

No initiatives or policies were implemented

High-quality & Transformative NBS

Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community)

Yes

Goal setting and impacts delivery

Yes, from the planning phase the project aimed to address issues in these three key priority areas and it also delivered benefits across these three areas.

Reaching original project goals

Most of the project goals were achieved

Please specify the achievements of the project goals

Climate action and Biodiversity:
-Storm / wave induced erosion and flooding: "Due to the ongoing concerns about flooding of the Tolka, it was decided that some of the stormwater be stored in the remaining portion of Poppintree Park. The design included for several types of wetlands: a permanent retention pond to be designed as a formal pool with steps down to it but which could fluctuate in depth by a metre; two detention ponds which were informal grassed areas but could store stormwater; a large basin with a mown lawn which could be used seasonally for kick about but which could detain water on a temporary basis and included some permanent wetland areas." (Ref. 7)
-Increased protection against flooding: "A vastly improved degree of site biodiversity, extensive wetland and sustainable drainage systems." (Ref. 2)
-Improved stormwater management: "A vastly improved degree of site biodiversity, extensive wetland and sustainable drainage systems." (Ref. 2)
-Reduced biodiversity loss: "A vastly improved degree of site biodiversity." (Ref. 2); "Biodiversity surveys show that the wetlands here are certainly performing well and that species diversity is increasing in the park." (Ref. 7)
-Increased number of species present: "Over 50,000 plants, and a completely accessible pathway network which includes extensive seating and viewing areas." (Ref. 10); "The park features an array of improved amenities including a Tree Trail highlighting 15 native tree varieties, a vastly improved degree of site biodiversity, extensive wetland and sustainable drainage systems" (Ref. 2)

Long-term perspective

Unknown: No information about the project's long-term sustainability.

Cost-effective solutions

Unknown

Equitable impacts

A. All stakeholders benefit fairly from the project

Transformative capacity

Ecological change (e.g. ecosystem functions and their distribution)

Magnitude of change

Incremental: shallow; that is, mostly maintaining business-as-usual approaches to adaptation

Application of lessons learned

The NBS has been shared or used as a good practice to trigger transformative change

Perception of Environmental Change

Unknown

6. Sources

References

Kilwex (n.d.). Poppintree Park. Kilwex, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Dublin City Council (n.d.). Poppintree Park (Páirc Poppintree). Dublin City Council, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

ARPL Architects (n.d.). Civic Trust Commendation for Dublin Design. ARPL Architects, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

DORMAN Architects (n.d.). Poppintree Changing. DORMAN Architects, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Corr, S. (2023). Ireland clinches two thirds of Green Flag Awards for parks across Europe. Irish Mirror, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Dublin People (2014). Playground Torched. Dublin People, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Horticulture Connected (2016). Dublin – A city of wetlands. Horticulture Connected, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Ballymun Regeneration (n.d.). FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - Ballymun Regeneration. Ballymun Regeneration, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

O’Mahony Pike Architects (n.d.). Ballymun Regeneration Masterplan. O’Mahony Pike Architects, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

10.

Common Designs (n.d.). Poppintree Park. Common Designs, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

11.

Harvey, B. (2015). Ballymun: A Social Profile 2007-2015.. youngballymun, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

12.

Ballymun Partnership (n.d.). Income Levels and Spending Preferences of Ballymun People.. Ballymun Partnership, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

13.

Dublin City Council (n.d.). Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan 2015-2020. Dublin City Council, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Comments and notes

Public Images