Playing field behind maternity

stefanovich

Went to go down there with the dog and realised it's being gated off now. It's private? A bit annoying that the green area there is not being utilised by the public.

johnnyryan89

stefanovich wrote: »

Went to go down there with the dog and realised it's being gated off now. It's private? A bit annoying that the green area there is not being utilised by the public.

As far as I know that's being or was being used by Shelbourne soccer club as one of their pitches. It may still be used by them or not I ain't 100% sure.

phog

I think it's used by Shelbourne but managed by city hall. I assume the idea of locking gates is the age old excuse of trying to stop anti social behaviour.

Rather than take on the few they stop or restrict everyone from using the amenity.

johnnyryan89

phog wrote: »

I think it's used by Shelbourne but managed by city hall. I assume the idea of locking gates is the age old excuse of trying to stop anti social behaviour.

Rather than take on the few they stop or restrict everyone from using the amenity.

I think that's Shelbourne Park you're thinking of. City Hall manage that and only let Shelbourne and Balla use it when there is nothing else on, think that's why both clubs have other pitches such as Bateman Park and LPYMA that they have leases on.

stefanovich

I used to go there as a kid. I think we called it "young men's", so perhaps some relation to the YMCA? Here it is on the map.

Jofspring

Ya it's called the LPYMA and Shelbourne still use the pitch apparently. I haven't heard of them using it in years though. I've heard developers have been trying to get their hands on that land for years.

johnnyryan89

Yeah that's the LPYMA (Limerick Protestant Young Mens Association).

stefanovich

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

Yeah that's the LPYMA (Limerick Protestant Young Mens Association).

It would make a nice public park. Public playing field or whatever.

Hooked

Jofspring wrote: »

Ya it's called the LPYMA and Shelbourne still use the pitch apparently. I haven't heard of them using it in years though. I've heard developers have been trying to get their hands on that land for years.

It's is indeed used by Shelbourne FC. We've trained on it a number of times this season. And I'm pretty sure the underage structure use it regularly. Not sure who it officially 'belongs' to.

stefanovich

Hooked wrote: »

It's is indeed used by Shelbourne FC. We've trained on it a number of times this season. And I'm pretty sure the underage structure use it regularly. Not sure who it officially 'belongs' to.

Why the locked gate?

johnnyryan89

Just checked the Limerick District Schoolboys League page and they have Shelbourne down as still playing matches in the LPYMA so they must still have the lease and play matches there when Shelbourne Park is unavailable.

Hooked

stefanovich wrote: »

Why the locked gate?

Not really sure. I know certain members of Shelbourne FC are key holders. As I said above... I've no idea who actually owns it or has rights to use it. I just know that Shelbourne regularly do.

johnnyryan89

stefanovich wrote: »

Why the locked gate?

If it's leased and used by a soccer club the last thing they want is people wrecking the pitch or getting hurt and putting a claim in against the club for getting hurt on their grounds.

stefanovich

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

If it's leased and used by a soccer club the last thing they want is people wrecking the pitch or getting hurt and putting a claim in against the club for getting hurt on their grounds.

Well it was open to the public for years, now they've decided to lock it up. There is a large area unused which is not pitch also.

If I was limerick city council I'd be thinking about a compulsory purchase order.

johnnyryan89

stefanovich wrote: »

Well it was open to the public for years, now they've decided to lock it up. There is a large area unused which is not pitch also.

If I was limerick city council I'd be thinking about a compulsory purchase order.

It is owned by the council I think and Shelbourne have it leased from them to use.

stefanovich

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

It is owned by the council I think and Shelbourne have it leased from them to use.

Wow, and the council don't allow the general public access. Nice.

Jofspring

The fact it's so hidden away might be a reason why it's not favoured for public use. I remember as a kid we used to hop the wall at the opposite side to go in and play football, the wall would bring you in to farranshone but it was usually dodgy enough with groups of lads hanging around as it was dark at night and kind of hidden.

johnnyryan89

stefanovich wrote: »

Wow, and the council don't allow the general public access. Nice.

Because Shelbourne FC have the running of it while the lease to use it is in their name and Shelbourne use it as a soccer pitch not a public park.

Also Shelbourne Park is only around the corner which is open to the public so why so why are you complaining about the LPYMA being closed off.

johnnyryan89

stefanovich wrote: »

Wow, and the council don't allow the general public access. Nice.

Because Shelbourne FC have the running of it while the lease to use it is in their name and Shelbourne use it as a soccer pitch not a public park.

Also Shelbourne Park is only around the corner which is open to the public so why are you complaining about the LPYMA being closed off.

phog

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

I think that's Shelbourne Park you're thinking of. City Hall manage that and only let Shelbourne and Balla use it when there is nothing else on, think that's why both clubs have other pitches such as Bateman Park and LPYMA that they have leases on.

I don't know who owns it but I was referring to the field in the OP. AFAIK, the houses bordering the field has made representations to the council or the gardai about anti social behaviour.

gctest50

stefanovich wrote: »

Why the locked gate?

maybe they are tired of picking up dog crap

stefanovich wrote: »

Went to go down there with the dog and realised it's being gated off now. .......

phog

I know Shelbourne had issues with horses grazing there too so maybe they looked for and got permission to lock it up. There was always a gate there though, one on the Ennis Rd.

stefanovich

gctest50 wrote: »

maybe they are tired of picking up dog crap

I pick up after the dog. There's crap everywhere in Limerick.

Poxyshamrock

Can you not use Shelbourne Park around the corner?

phog

stefanovich wrote: »

I pick up after the dog. There's crap everywhere in Limerick.

I was at Lake Garda a few years ago, an Italian couple had their dog on the beach, a story beach. Next thing I hear screeching, when I look the husband is rushing towards the dog, picks him up and brings him to the their vehicle where they had a pot for the dog to pee in. Meanwhile, the wife scooped up the stones where the dog had started to do his business and washed them.

In Ireland if we're lucky the pet owner will scoop up poo. In some cases, the owner will then leave the plastic bag down on the ground or "hide" it in the bushes

washman3

Did the mighy Treaty Sarsfields GAA club (now defunct) use that pitch many years ago. Fairly sure they were from the Farranshone area. Long before my time..!!!

stefanovich

Poxyshamrock wrote: »

Can you not use Shelbourne Park around the corner?

Its a big green area close to town owned by the council. They can do better than leasing it out for football practise.

Yeah I could go to shelbourne park but that's not the point.

johnnyryan89

stefanovich wrote: »

Its a big green area close to town owned by the council. They can do better than leasing it out for football practise.

Such as?

phog

stefanovich wrote: »

Its a big green area close to town owned by the council. They can do better than leasing it out for football practise.

Yeah I could go to shelbourne park but that's not the point.

I see your point to a degree but Shelbourne maintain it and use it for games too.

There has to be a happy medium about public access and damage to playing fields.

stefanovich

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

Such as?

If you had access to it from the south it would be more accessible and more open. A public park comes to mind.

Bored_lad

stefanovich wrote: »

If you had access to it from the south it would be more accessible and more open. A public park comes to mind.

Firstly Shelbourne are renting it so they have every right to close it off. But it's too closed off to be used as a public park in my opinion and would just attract anti social behaviour.

johnnyryan89

stefanovich wrote: »

If you had access to it from the south it would be more accessible and more open. A public park comes to mind.

But Shelbourne Park is only around the corner, why have two public parks less then a mile apart in the one area.

phog

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

But Shelbourne Park is only around the corner, why have two public parks less then a mile apart in the one area.

I have no difficulty with two or more public parks in an area and we also have Westfields nearby and there's also a park in or near Mayorstone but once a club gets rights to use one for a playing field I can see why they'd want to protect it.

stefanovich

phog wrote: »

I have no difficulty with two or more public parks in an area and we also have Westfields nearby and there's also a park in or near Mayorstone but once a club gets rights to use one for a playing field I can see why they'd want to protect it.

I suppose I'm just a little annoyed as there was always access before. Used to hang out there as a kid. Looks like the fence is bent open anyway so the undesirables still have access, they are just keeping out the responsible adults.

johnnyryan89

phog wrote: »

I have no difficulty with two or more public parks in an area and we also have Westfields nearby and there's also a park in or near Mayorstone but once a club gets rights to use one for a playing field I can see why they'd want to protect it.

Oh I agree with you on the club protecting it's playing field. Was involved with another club on the north side and had trouble trying to keep people wrecking the field, had one guy who always used to play golf on it.

elastico

stefanovich wrote: »

I suppose I'm just a little annoyed as there was always access before. Used to hang out there as a kid. Looks like the fence is bent open anyway so the undesirables still have access, they are just keeping out the responsible adults.

Councils around the country own lots of parcels of land and lease them to local sporting organisations.

Tallaght stadium AFAIK belongs to the council and is rented to Shamrock rovers.

Previously it may have been an open field accessible to all.

Jofspring

Ya spot on about Tallaght.

zulutango

I think Stefanovich is making a good point. This is a very valuable public green space very near the city centre. It should be open to the city rather than any single group.

Kenny B

It has been used for sports for as long as I can remember, to have it open to the public would inevitably lead to insurance claims and a full time park attendant on hand.

A €5 lock saves a lot of money,

I vaguely recall the Maternity were looking to take some of that land before.

martyc5674

zulutango wrote: »

I think Stefanovich is making a good point. This is a very valuable public green space very near the city centre. It should be open to the city rather than any single group.

That sums up my view on it too.
I think it suits the council to have it let to someone they could easily take it back from should it suddenly become valuable...wouldnt be as easy for them to pull a public park.

Marty

Jofspring

As far as I know the land is protected. It has to be used for recreational use and cannot be developed on. Attempts have been made in the past.

martyc5674

Jofspring wrote: »

As far as I know the land is protected. It has to be used for recreational use and cannot be developed on. Attempts have been made in the past.

Well that is good to know.. pity alright with its prime location its not getting more use from a wider audience.