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The Parks Thread - How Many Can You Run?
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29-07-2017 8:33am#1Summer. Long runs getting longer. Silly season.
I find the default run routes can get monotonous and I try to vary them as much as possible. Here's an idea for a bit of fun for runners based in Dublin and other towns/cities: how many parks can you include in your run?
There are many little-known and little-used parks out there. Why not include them in your run and post a description/review in your post? How many parks did you get to? Where are they? What are they like to run in? Any interesting features/facilities (e.g. water source, interesting trails etc.)? You get the picture!
We could probably crowdsource useful information on most of the public parks out there. For planning your run, some local authority websites contain information on the parks under their jurisdiction. Dublin City Council's list, for example, is here. The eagle-eyed among you will notice that there are some omissions from this list. Attached below is another list that DCC provides, but it dates from 1999 and thus does not include newer parks such as Fr. Collins in Clongriffin. No doubt there are other omissions which might come to light in due course.
Describe your run here, perhaps including a link to your Garmin Connect or Strava activity for added detail. As this idea has emerged from some Strava discussion, I know that one or two people have started 'collecting' already.
Not a competition, of course, but who can run the most parks? Or who can squeeze the most parks into a run?
:cool: 14
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I'll get the ball rolling myself.
11k, 5 parks.
This recent easy run took in some of my favourite parks - the local Fairview Park, Griffith Park in Drumcondra, Albert College in Glasnevin and the two large greens in Marino. I've always considered the latter to be small parks as they are railed, maintained by the Council and have other features generally associated with parks - trees, a football pitch etc. They are not on the council website but sure enough are listed on the PDF linked above so I think they're legit - despite some quibbling from some quarters in the strava comments.
All of these parks are looking magnificent at the moment, especially Albert College which really is a gem, with its mature trees and excellent tarmac paths, which measure Just over 1.6k around the perimeter so really handy for mile reps or shorter sessions. Relatively flat too, although there is a little drag from the Griffith Ave. end up to DCU.0 -
I haven't run it in a while, so I don't have the garmin/strava link, but I've run something like this before
http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/1704896966
St Lorcan O'Toole park
Bushy Park
Marlay Park
Dodder valley Park
Tymon park
I'm sure I could run across some greens and through people's gardens to bump up the numbers :pac: but those are actual parks
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I haven't run it in a while, so I don't have the garmin/strava link, but I've run something like this before
http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/1704896966
St Lorcan O'Toole park
Bushy Park
Marlay Park
Dodder valley Park
Tymon park
I'm sure I could run across some greens and through people's gardens to bump up the numbers :pac: but those are actual parks
Now now. Greens and gardens are clearly not allowed. Only parks on DCC and other official local authority lists. They don't have to be big. Or maybe they do - the rules are malleable, like all good rules.
Here's one from yesterday.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1108567323
The route was a little contrived, but managed to visit at least five parks I've never been in, although I'd run past most of them before. Some of them are very interesting, and some of them are damn scary, but they are all 'official' parks!0 -
I'm sure I could run across some greens and through people's gardens to bump up the numbers :pac: but those are actual parks
Ha! well if that's the game then that increases my chances somewhat. We have one park in Dunboyne so I'd have to drive to Ongar or something and try and run a few of the Dublin 15 parks. Might try that next weekend. Looks like the closer to the city you are (both North and South) you have a big crop to pick from. 0 -
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I was down there recently looking to see if the pool in Sean McDermot Street pool had potential for a lunchtime swim (it doesn't), a local woman suggested I hold onto my bag and don't take my phone out, in fact she told me twice. I got out of dodge fairly quickly after that I remember Diamond park before they put playground into it, and indeed after they put the playground in it was wrecked but yes seems to be used properly by the locals now which is great to see. Look forward to seeing what you come up with next week! 0
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Just had a look at this. Some interesting ones to say the least. I certainly wouldn't call Ormond Square a park - although it has a playground I suppose. It also has a plaque dedicated to John Giles, and then a sign a couple of feet away forbidding ball games
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Wubble Wubble wrote: »Just had a look at this. Some interesting ones to say the least. I certainly wouldn't call Ormond Square a park - although it has a playground I suppose. It also has a plaque dedicated to John Giles, and then a sign a couple of feet away forbidding ball games
Yep - had actually never been on Ormond Sq before. Had my eye out for Giles landmarks but didn't spot any! Agree it's not a park in the accepted sense but it's on both council lists for some reason. Website claims it is the oldest dedicated public recreational space in Dublin (sounds dubious), but if so that's possibly why its park status is being artificially preserved!0 -
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Damn good idea D. A run can always be more than a run. My own little effort yielded a pb. A win is a win.
Bram Stoker Park (Fairview): a fitting remembrance name nestled in front of The Crescent. Surrounded by traffic but very well sheltered by shrubs and trees. A couple of laps to make up a km
Ellenfield Park (Whitehall): Where Liam Brady plied his trade as a nipper and the last place that I saw Luke Kelly walking with his flaming red hair.
Look forward to adding to this list, and of course another pb.0 -
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Damn good idea D. A run can always be more than a run. My own little effort yielded a pb. A win is a win.
Bram Stoker Park (Fairview): a fitting remembrance name nestled in front of The Crescent. Surrounded by traffic but very well sheltered by shrubs and trees. A couple of laps to make up a km
Ellenfield Park (Whitehall): Where Liam Brady plied his trade as a nipper and the last place that I saw Luke Kelly walking with his flaming red hair.
Look forward to adding to this list, and of course another pb.
Can we add a rule that if you include an interesting fact about the park it gets you extra points? Nice one D 0 -
Have to say, this little game is making things more interesting. Went out for a walk (sorry!) at lunchtime on Tuesday and decided to see how many parks I could get in. Had to borrow a couple from Murph though and started out in Diamond Park - eh he forgot to mention it's mostly closed off due to the building going on beside it so my walk went like this. Strode through the gate confidently past a group of builders (I'm in a LBD and runners...), walked around by the playground only to realise there was no way out except to go back the way I came , good start! Headed up to Mountjoy Square then and in one gate, out the opposite. Have never walked in there before despite working fairly close by, interesting cross section of society and lots of different cultures represented. Headed over to the Garden of Remembrance then, this is another 'only one way in/out' park. Lots of people sitting eating their lunch in the sun and there's a nice looking pool in the middle I could have jumped in and done some lengths
. No more parks on this walk but did nip into the Department of Education grounds as I passed to do a loop, they have a green in the centre, does that count?! Headed for the boardwalk then to finish it off & make it a bit of a miss match. Verdict: much more interesting than my usual up and down the quays stroll.
Then today I was heading to Hartstown parkrun so did some googling to see if I could take in a few more parks. Cherryfield Park is across from Hartstown, it's not much to speak of but it's on google maps as a park so I'm taking it....ran Hartstown parkrun and then jogged the mile or so up to Millennium Park, pretty unimpressive as parks go! Poor ole D15 is not blessed in the parks department I'm afraid.0 -
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I was wondering whether the Garden of Remembrance is actually a park - not counted as one by DCC but possibly one of the OPW parks?
Millennium park? Don't know that one!
Yep it's listed as OPW, not sure if that counts, Millennium Park in Dublin 15, runs alongside the new (well, not anymore) bypass roads they built when they built the SC here. Nothing of note to report in it!
Going to try for some south city parks next week 0 -
Annie get your Run wrote: »Yep it's listed as OPW, not sure if that counts, Millennium Park in Dublin 15, runs alongside the new (well, not anymore) bypass roads they built when they built the SC here. Nothing of note to report in it!
Going to try for some south city parks next week
Well Phoenix Park is OPW so that's good enough for me.
I always get lost in D15. 0 -
Two parks and a canal today. There's a little park beside the pool I go to in Cabra called Pope John Paul Park, its tiny and aside from a pretty little garden in the front section, is pretty much made up of a path going around some football pitches. Dipped in on the way from the pool to the Canal, ran along there up to Ashtown Gate and then nipped into the trails in the Phoenix Park before dipping back into PJP park again on the way back. I vaguely remember running in there once before but once again enjoyed mixing things up a bit, I'd normally just run from the pool to the PP and back again so really enjoyed the change of scene.
Is no one else playing?! You're all missing out 0 -
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Annie get your Run wrote: »Two parks and a canal today. There's a little park beside the pool I go to in Cabra called Pope John Paul Park, its tiny and aside from a pretty little garden in the front section, is pretty much made up of a path going around some football pitches. Dipped in on the way from the pool to the Canal, ran along there up to Ashtown Gate and then nipped into the trails in the Phoenix Park before dipping back into PJP park again on the way back. I vaguely remember running in there once before but once again enjoyed mixing things up a bit, I'd normally just run from the pool to the PP and back again so really enjoyed the change of scene.
Is no one else playing?! You're all missing out
Nice find AM. Have been to a few hurling games there over the years. Just see that they have an older local name on the park The Bogies Could not figure out the origin of the name but thought it might be of interest.0 -
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No parks up here but I did find myself counting mountain ranges on my long run this morning.... I wasn't climbing them but could see 4 in 3 counties
Not sure if they count anna you'll have to have a word with the boss, as he informed me earlier on Strava, his game, his rules Nice find AM. Have been to a few hurling games there over the years. Just see that they have an older local name on the park The Bogies Could not figure out the origin of the name but thought it might be of interest.
Denis you're a great man for the points of interest! Funny how a name that originated in the 30's still hangs around in the locality, very 'Dublin'.0 -
Nice work, AM. You could've dipped into the Tolka Valley Park too, from what I saw on Strava. Any reason why not? It's generally safe enough!
Visited that "John Paul" Park for first time on my run last week. Had run past dozens of times without ever going in. You say it's small but it was more extensive than I expected, with plenty of busy pitches and a very impressive looking sports centre/gym/changing facility. I was a bit mystified by the JP2 monicker, but encouraged to see the front section has been recently dedicated to Cumann na mBan, probably as part of the 2016 reevaluation of recent history. Nice mature trees around the park too.
Bogies - fascinating name. Had noticed the nearby roundabout is called the same. Love these older place names, will try to find out more.0 -
Nice work, AM. You could've dipped into the Tolka Valley Park too, from what I saw on Strava. Any reason why not? It's generally safe enough!
Visited that "John Paul" Park for first time on my run last week. Had run past dozens of times without ever going in. You say it's small but it was more extensive than I expected, with plenty of busy pitches and a very impressive looking sports centre/gym/changing facility. I was a bit mystified by the JP2 monicker, but encouraged to see the front section has been recently dedicated to Cumann na mBan, probably as part of the 2016 reevaluation of recent history. Nice mature trees around the park too.
Bogies - fascinating name. Had noticed the nearby roundabout is called the same. Love these older place names, will try to find out more.
I hadn't done a google recce beforehand and didn't realise tolka valley was close by, damn it. I clearly need to be more observant as never noticed the Cumann na mBan dedication either...perhaps I need to start wearing my glasses while running!!!0 -
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Epic stuff D!
This is indeed impressive, although I don't think we can allow you King's Inns or St Audeon's unless you jumped the railings.:pac: Also on my recent run I counted Blessington St Park and the Basin as a single park (in line with DCC list), and I don't think you actually got to Berkeley St Park according to your Strava trace (missed that one myself too.)
Even with those modifications, I make this 24 parks, way into the lead. :cool:
Impressed that you made up this course as you went along, too. Hmm. How to top that... 0 -
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Epic stuff D!
This is indeed impressive, although I don't think we can allow you King's Inns or St Audeon's unless you jumped the railings.:pac:
27 Parks listed but I left both of these out so can only "claim" the 25!!
Also on my recent run I counted Blessington St Park and the Basin as a single park (in line with DCC list), and I don't think you actually got to Berkeley St Park according to your Strava trace (missed that one myself too.)
Had a close look at your pdf and agree that there is confusion here. I used the wrong name to indicate Berkeley Park. I had run through the isolated park at the end of the Western Way but yes, it must be part of the extended Blessington St. Basin Park. So the running (hhmmmm) total is now 24
Even with those modifications, I make this 24 parks, way into the lead. :cool:
Impressed that you made up this course as you went along, too. Hmm. How to top that...
Knew I missed a few handy ones as tiredness got the better of me: missed Berkeley, Cabbage Patch, Millennium Garden, Sandymount Green which were all very close by. There are lots of handy Parks in D6. Might try that again leaving out Fairview etc as it is a long drag out to that quadrant and it is kind of familiar.
Its all in the learning 0 -
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