Phoenix Park extends restrictions on vehicles, adds more cycling facilities

The Office of Public Works is retaining restrictions in vehicles in the Phoenix Park until the end of June, with extra facilities in place for cycling and walking

Secondary vehicle entrances in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, are to remain closed until the end of the month, the Office of Public Works has said.

While the two main gates, at the Courts of Criminal Justice and on the far side of the park at Castleknock, will remain open for traffic, the other gates around the park perimeter will remain closed to drivers.

"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," it said of the paths that had previously been shared by cyclists and pedestrians.

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Phoenix Park is a great spot for cycling and is especially useful for teaching children how to cycle, with several smaller roads blocked to drivers by barriers

"The OPW is claiming the hard shoulder as a new cycle way which will be 25 per cent wider than the existing inside cycle lane and will result in an additional 7km of recreational space on either side of Chesterfield Avenue," it said.

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"This increase of 33 per cent 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 other new developments in the park for pedestrians and cyclists include:

  • Over 70s and medically vulnerable are being given priority at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre Walled Garden from 10am to 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

The OPW explained the changes were temporary - for the duration of the lock-down period - and that any further changes impacting vehicles would be made in consultation with the Garda and Dublin's local authorities.

It added 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".

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