Earlier closing time for Limerick's public parks as darker evening set in

AS THE clocks are set to go back this bank holiday weekend, members of the public are being advised of the reduced opening hours of public parks to align with the shorter daylight hours.

The clocks are set to go back by one hour at 2am on Sunday, October 25 - marking the end of Daylight Saving Time.

The closing times for public parks was raised at the October meeting of the Metropolitan District, where a motion submitted by Cllr Elisa Donovan, calling for the winter opening hours of public parks in the city to be extended was passed.

Public parks in the city include: People’s Park, O’Brien Park, Mungret Park and Arthurs Quay Park.

In her motion, Cllr O’Donovan also asked the council to “consider improved lighting where required to allow greater and safer use during winter evenings”.

Within his written reply, Senior Engineer Aidan Finn confirmed opening hours of parks will be reduced for the winter period.

He noted how current closing times for October are 7pm, which is set to change to 5pm, from November 1. The parks will then close at 4:30pm each day during December and January.

As spring approaches in February, the times will change again with parks staying open until 5pm in February, 6pm in March and 7pm in April.

In response to Cllr O’Donovan’s motion Mr Finn outlined how “parks are generally closed after dark to help minimise opportunities for antisocial behaviour in unlit areas and to ensure the safety of all park users”.

He also noted how “the suitability of extended opening hours would vary across the park network and would require assessment on a park-by-park basis, taking account of existing facilities, levels of use, security requirements, neighbouring residential properties, lighting infrastructure, operational implications and health and safety considerations”.

The senior engineer concluded his reply explaining how the Parks Section could undertake an audit of existing park lighting in the metropolitan District “taking account of safety, operational and ecological considerations”.

Mr Finn explained how the results of such an audit “could inform the development of a future parks lighting policy and identify locations where lighting improvements may be appropriate, subject to the availability of funding”.

In a social media post following the meeting Cllr Elisa O’Donovan said: “I was delighted that my motion calling for extended opening hours in our city parks and improved lighting around recreational facilities was passed yesterday with full support”.

“Our parks and recreational facilities shouldn’t become inaccessible just because the evenings get darker,” she continued.

A full list of the closing times for Limerick city and county parks can be found on LCCC website.