Chapter 6
Green and Blue Infrastructure, Open Space and Biodiversity
Issues / Recommendations / Observations
Sub. No.
Chief Executive’s Response & Recommendation
Trees play a key role in delivering green healthy places across the city, their protection is listed as a key Strategic Biodiversity Goal, ‘ to protect and enhance the city’s trees and u rban woodlands. ’ The Draft Plan includes support for tree planting indicatives across the city. This is further reinforced under paragraphs 6.69 to 6.71, noting that the tree canopy coverage is an estimated 14% in Cork City. Table 6.15 Tree Preservation Orders in Cork City illustrates the number of Tree Preservation Orders across the City. This list will be subject to continuous revies during the lifetime of the Plan. As part of the commitment to the undertake an Open Space Strategy a play strategy, an allotments and community gardens strategy, cemeteries strategy and a tree strategy will be prepared. These elements form a central part of the Open Space strategy and reflect the Council’s intentions to support inclusive development for everyone, including children and their care givers. The Development Plan supports the promotion of water based activities in Cork City. This is reflected in Table 6.4 City Scale Green and Blue Infrastructure Opportunities. Sport facilities are a central part of recreational infrastructure, the Council supports their continued development and seeks to support to develop a multi- use hub / sport model between different organisations. Which is intended to increase access to all manner of sport facilities for communities in the city. Recommendation: No change. Submission on the health benefits of therapeutic gardens is welcome by Cork City Council. An open space strategy will be prepared, as described in paragraph 6.50. It has specific references to the needs of communities and people of all ages and healthy lifestyles. This is then referred to in Objective 6.17, Open Space Strategy.
• for more parks, community gardens, and allotments, • larger playgrounds, and services/features e.g. places to exercise (indoor and outdoor gym, basketball courts, tennis courts, zoo and soccer pitches), tables, chairs, benches, toilets and bathrooms.
• For more places to sit, eat and relax
• for safety in outdoor spaces
• for indoor and outdoor places to play and to have fun e.g. obstacle courses and kids gym
• for places for older children to hang out
• for provision of water parks and swimming pools with recommendation that these should be free to everyone
• provision for dog parks
• for more sports centres and pitches
(iii)
This submission makes reference to the need for a therapeutic garden in Cork:
358
A place should be found for therapeutic gardens, in the Development Plan and in the city. The council's support
296
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