Thoughtfully planned Parks and Outdoor Spaces that balance Community, Ecology, Aesthetics and long-term resilience.
I have spent 36 years designing building and managing Public Parks. These vary in size from the largest Regional Parks to the local open spaces in estates. Each is unique with its own chratcteristics, user profiles, requirements, microclimates and vegetation. Some are quite complex, with requirements for active and passive recreation, play facilities, water features, wild areas, and some were quite simple, a pedestrain path, some seats, trees.
Service overview: Parks Planning & Design
We provide end-to-end support for the planning, design, and future management of parks and open spaces. From first concepts to detailed design, the work is truly site specific, respecting the existing landscape, and seeking to integrate Biodiversity, Recreation, Accessibility, Practicality and Aesthetics with the requirements of Communities and Value for Money.
How we work
- Listen to the Client
- Detailed Site Surveys
- Meet and Workshop with Community
- Provide Concept Drawings
- Agree Detail
- Bring to Planning Stage
- Oversee construction
Types of projects
- Neighborhood and community parks
- Regional parks and open space networks
- Waterfronts, greenways, and trail systems
- Natural Play areas and adventure playgrounds
- Ecological restoration and habitat-focused parks
- Park upgrades, renewals, and master plans
- Sports Facilities
- Street Tree Inventory and Management
Featured Projects
Tyrrelstown Park, Dublin 15
Completed during tenure with Fingal County Council
In my time working for Fingal County Council, I was involved in the design and construction of a new 55-acre Neighbourhood Park in Tyrrelstown, Dublin 15. Built from scratch, the park includes a network of pedestrian paths, playing pitches, an adventure playground, a lake, and substantial tree and hedgerow planting.
Fernhill Park & Gardens, Stepaside, County Dublin.
Completed during tenure with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
As Head of Parks in DLR from 2016, my first major challenge was to oversee the transformation of 82 acres — comprising woodland, a Historic House, rich biodiversity, and a world-renowned plant collection — into a fully functioning Public Park. Leading a team of Council staff and consultants, and communicating progress with Elected Councillors throughout, our aim was to deliver a design sensitive to the existing landscape while meeting the accessibility standards required of a modern public park.
What’s included
Location is key. Each parks planning and design engagement is tailored to the context, but may include the following components:
- Site analysis and inventory of existing conditions
- Community and stakeholder engagement support
- Visioning, concept alternatives, and test fits
- Programming of amenities and natural features
- Circulation, accessibility, and wayfinding strategies
- Planting concepts emphasizing native and climate-resilient species
- Integration of green infrastructure and stormwater management
- Preliminary grading and layout plans
- High-level cost opinions for planning and phasing
- Coordination with multidisciplinary teams and agencies
- Guidance for long-term stewardship and maintenance
Next steps
Ready to explore what’s possible for your park or open space? Get in touch to discuss your goals, timelines, and how we can support your project from vision to implementation.
