Dublin City Council BETA

@dccbeta.bsky.social

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A @dubcitycouncil.bsky.social initiative to imagine, trial and establish solutions that improve living in the city. www.dccbeta.ie You can see the status of the various BETA Projects here https://trello.com/b/8jXnfMIO/beta-project-pipeline

Dublin - hovering around the very good to fair mark across the full time range. Dropping gradually from 1970s to present - entering the very good range.
Screenshot from the linked "Paris Breathes" website. Zoomed in - indicating a few of the opened-up neighbourhoods.
A grid of cars, trees, plants and bicycles. Blue and orange icons on a white background.
Shed building (under construction by our Joinery Facility). Up against a wall sits 6 planter boxes. Mostly wrapped in protective plastic film.
The photo shows a Dublin street, with one and two storey city dwellings in the background. In from of a bike hangar stands Ed who was one of the trial participants.
Cropped map of Ireland with expressions of interest for BikeBunker spaces.
Map of wider Dublin with applications for BikeBunkers. Concentration nearer the city centre but demand throughout.
Two photos in this post, taken from the same angle. This one is the After version. The photo shows a park context. There is a paved area in the foreground. Within it, there is a utility access cover. Around it are white leaf stencils - remnants from the trial - which will fade.
Photo of a sign which reads "kinder straat!" and gives dates and times below. Translates as "Children Street! 24 June. 15 July. 16 September. From 13:00 - 17:00"
Screen grab from the video. Showing a blurred sign and "Eendrachtstraat" street sign under.
Photo of a park setting. It's a sunny day with some trees and people blurred in the background. In the foreground is a cooking appliance with a hood. Around it is a ring of stencil leaf markings.
A grid of cars, trees, plants and bicycles. Blue and orange icons on a white background.
A map of Dublin showing the locations of ring buoys and sensors along the River Liffey.
Photo with large gable wall of a house. Three people walk past on footpath. There are 4 bike stands, 2 are low for cargo bikes, 2 are for regular bicycles. A branded cargo is locked to one of the stands.
A photo of a street lined with dramatically shaped, very tall trees silhouetted against the sky. The view is down the street. Cars park left and right, with some gaps. Some colourful bunting is stretched across the street and in the centre of the roadway, at the far end of the street, some parents and children play.
A traffic light control box on a Dublin street is being painted as part of the Dublin Canvas project. The box has a sketched outline of a running figure with arms stretched forward, ready to be filled with colour. A printed reference design, showing an abstract multicoloured version of the artwork, is taped to the box. Beside it are painting supplies including a tool box, step stool, and a high-vis jacket. In the background is Gresham House, a brown brick building with a blue entrance sign and a large golden clock on the wall. Two pedestrians, an adult and a child, walk past on the pavement. White text on the image reads: “Day 1 of this years @dublincanvas box! @dlrcoco.ie”.
"Hi, just wanted to give feedback! Really lovely set-up, had about 20 guests and lots of them loved the idea of the public grill. Would be really cool to see in more places though as we're from all over Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Laois. Best of luck with other projects, you're doing great work! "
Screenshot of the webpage, which says Traffic Request You can use this form to report: • Bollards • Bus lanes and bus stops • Cycle lanes and cycle parking • Line marking • Parking bays, restrictions, and Pay & Display • Pedestrian crossings • School wardens • Traffic calming measures • Traffic mirrors, signals, and signs Additional information to read: Transport service request form FAQs Privacy Notice, Transport Advisory Group Administration Section (GDPR) - transport related service requests
Black and white photo of children playing, jumping over a rope, on Henrietta Street in Dublin.
Photo of a planning application site notice on a wall, with existing colourful mural. Underneath is the text "the 1st planning application of its kind in Ireland. #StreetArtBETA"
Close-up of an eye, from a mural painted by https://artbyeoin.com/ - as part of a previous BETA Project
Photo. In the foreground is a high, but single-storey boundary wall. Left and right are two portions of flat wall, in-between there's a gate. A man walks past the gate. In the background is an apartment block. The two flat portions of wall have a scribble overlaid on each portion. There's also an arrow pointing to a planning site notice.
Photo before removal. BikeBunker in place, and someone cycling by.
Photo of CooktopBETA trial. The appliance is essentially like a large square frying pan. The hood over it is open and on the cooking surface are three trays with various marinated meats, potatoes and also king prawns on skewers. To the left is a cup of fresh orange juice with ice (the chef's drink) and in the background is a picnic table filled with more food for cooking, sauces, drinks, etc.
Close-up image of someone cooking on the #CooktopBETA trial in Herbert Park. The overlaid text reads: 1. Clean 2. Press button to turn on (It now heats and sterilises the surface) 3. Cook! 4. Clean up after yourself 5. Spread the word! Free to use. No booking required.
Andrea, posted on 2024.06.25 Hello there I was soo pleased seeing this idea in the park,we have been tested it Sunday,it was great.We are a big family living in apartment so for us to fo a bbq is very hard, bow that is allowed anywhere anymore. This is a perfect place to do birthday parties,l am soo happy that something like have been in Dublin.Please put in more locations. Thank you
To make or improve a 'place' - Create addition space - Calm/reduce/remove traffic - Encourage dwell time (eg seating, play, music)
What creates a potential placemaking place Space widens / a break in the general street line Natural features such as existing large trees or a river Interesting buildings / landmark building Nearby food/drink businesses Buildings that cause people to gather (eg public or community building, school, religious building, tourist attraction) Reasons that cause people to gather (eg a swimming spot) Feels like a natural 'node' in an area/ neighbourhood Catches the sun Feeling of shelter / enclosure
Two cargobikes parked outside a metal bicycle hangar, to the side of a road. Both are two-wheeler cycles. One is blue with a basket at the front and a large cargo/seat area at the back with footrests and bars around. The other is green with a large box at the front. The door-lid for the bike hangar is open. The hangar itself has a subtle cargobike image on the side. Behind is the Grand Canal and there are lots of mature trees. A person walks by in the background.
Executive Summary This report contains key insights from interviews conducted with a range of Dublin-based or Dublin-experienced muralists and street artists in March / April 2025. The purpose was to gather artist perspectives that may help to inform the development of the Dublin Street Art Initiative. The findings indicate strong support for the initiative across the board, with all agreeing that they and artists in general would avail of a database of walls and paint at their own initiative / expense. Artists highlighted what they felt were critical challenges such as access to walls, the burdens of the current planning system, and a need for clear guidelines and fair opportunities. Artists welcomed the concept of a stock of legally-paintable walls, with a preference for spaces that are safe, diverse, and curated with transparency. There is a broad artist consensus around the value of street art as public expression, the necessity for a more supportive system, and the importance of avoiding the commodification of mural space by advertising. This report is based on interviews with nine street artists carried out in March and April 2025. The group represents a diverse cross-section of artistic disciplines and styles, ranging from large-scale muralists to graffiti and paste-up artists. The interviewees included artists at different stages of their careers and reflected a mix of genders, cultural backgrounds, and artistic approaches. The aim was to capture a broad and balanced perspective on the current street art landscape and the potential for future initiatives in Dublin.
Street art mural in a window recess in London.
Corner of buildings. Murals in 3 small window bays.
The logo of the scheme of participating businesses. It reads: iCi JE CHOISIS L'EAU DE PARIS (Here I can choose Paris Water") Includes the 'Eau de Paris' logo Je remplis ma gourde ("I can refill my container")
Image showing the map zoomed close-in. At this range, each dot on the map transforms to clearly-visible streets, with various icons of water fonts - in dark and light blue, and a yellow-orange colour. The legend bar has been opened, sliding halfway across the screen when viewed on mobile. It lists the public drinking font filters, to enable a user to display or not, various choices. The legend bar has then been further expanded showing a list of the 13 types of water font - . A user can display or not, various water font choices. The list is: - I choose Paris Water - Drinking fountain - Wallace fountain - Wallace 2-in-1 fountain - Totem fountain - Totem 2-in-1 fountain - Sparkling fountain - Millénaire fountain - Arceau fountain - Poing d'eau fountain - Albien fountain - Fountain in woods, parks and gardens - Mât Source fountain
Map of Paris, zoomed out to the full extents. Throughout the city region are a very large number of small dots indicating drinking water locations.
Map of Paris, zoomed out to the full extents. Throughout the city region are a very large number of small dots indicating drinking water locations.
Cropped portion of the photo, translated, which reads: Want a climbing plant or a small garden along your facade? The municipality supports you in this process by taking care of installing the pits for you. Do you want a climbing plant or a small garden? The municipality can help you with a green space for your gravel.
Translated sign (French to English) which reads PUTEAUX ISLAND DOG PARK This dog park offers various balance, obedience, and play courses. Learning through discovery is encouraged, so your dog will no longer be apprehensive about overcoming each obstacle. It is important to regularly reassure and encourage your dog throughout the courses. The introduction will be done on a leash. After several attempts, your dog will be able to progress off-leash, to everyone's delight
Photo of Paris street. To the left is a four-storey building, to the right is the Centre Irlandais, 4 storeys. A person crosses a zebra crossing in the centre of the photo.
A screenshot of a quote from the website. It reads: "Municipal playgrounds are often as bleak as barrack squares and just as boring. You are not allowed to build a fire, you would head straight for juvenile court if you started to dig up the expensive tarmac to make a cave, there are no bricks or planks to build a house, no workshops for carpentry, mechanical work, painting or modelling and of course, no trees to climb.." Lady Allen of Hurtwood
A photo of an entrance sign in a plant pot. Behind it is a glimpse of grass, trees and something resembling an old band stand with a green copper roof. The text on the sign reads: Welcome to Coram's Fields We are a children only park, so adults without a child should not enter. To ensure the safety of our young users, our park is staffed when the park is open and CCTV is in operation 24/7
Map of the LTNs, zoomed in to the gap between two LTNS. A location blue dot, shows the location is at the roadway between two LTNs which is a 'link road' or 'main road'.
Map of greater London. The map is overlaid with LOTS of yellow and purple shapes (which are LTNs).
A screen capture from Google Maps street view - from one of the links provided. The view is from a main street with commercial units, to a side street which appears residential. The entry to the side street is walking and cycling only, too narrow for anything else. There is a footpath, then an area full of planting and trees, then a cycle lane, then another area of planting and trees, then another footpath.
Photo of London. View is down a roadway, taken from centre of the road. 3+ storey buildings bound the road. The roadway is bounded by two poles and two wooden, planter boxes. Signage says no entry for cars and motorbikes, except for a particular type of permit holder.
Photo at end of a residential street. Swing gate across the roadway, bounded by two semi-mature trees. Gaps on either side enable people to cycle past - which a cyclist with a bike trailer is using in the photo. Large text on the roadway states KEEP CLEAR.
A London residential street of two-storey brick houses. The view is down the full length of the street, from the other side of a road which is at the end of the street. A person cycles past. The street entrance is marked by two semi-mature trees and a black, swing gate between. There are gaps either side of the gate enabling a person to cycle though. There are foot paths on both sides of the street, on the left and right of the photo.
Results and findings The Hackney Play Streets project has made street play a regular feature in the lives of a significant number of children and families in Hackney. In the 12-month period until September 2014 the programme has: • Supported parents to run 380 hours of play street and estate play sessions in 29 locations reaching around 1,600 children and nearly 800 families. • Enabled over 8,100 child-hours of physical activity - on a par with 14 additional classes of weekly term-time PE lessons. Projecting forward, this figure could rise to 13,800 child-hours in the year from October 2014. • Shown that residential road closures for street play - or play streets - have a low impact on traffic movements; an average of nine vehicles were diverted or 'walked through' during a two to three hour session. • Spread play street uptake beyond the initial pattern of the more affluent parts of Hackney to reach a broader demographic, including areas of disadvantage. • Built an effective three-way partnership between Hackney Council, Hackney Play Association and groups of residents. • Developed a sustainable model for improving opportunities for street play, with significant potential for growth. • Revealed a strong consensus amongst organisers about the perceived benefits of the scheme for children, families and communities - especially in terms of social interaction, but also as a way to expand children's freedom and choice in their play. • Highlighted challenges when attempting to move on from playworker-facilitated sessions - an approach piloted in two housing estates. • Uncovered significant interest from schools, early years settings and voluntary and community organisations in the idea of street play. Three schools and a children's centre are running termly play streets. • Demonstrated that street closures have not been contentious among residents. A total of 18 written objections have been made to the Council since September 2012 when it first adopted a play streets scheme - averaging at less than one objection per street scheme. At the time of completing this report in February 2015, Hackney has 32 play streets.
Photo of a Play London leaflet. Text and a photo. Photo show 2 young children sharing a single bicycle. In the background other children play in groups and individually in the roadway and footpath. Text reads: WHAT is a play street? Play streets simply give children the chance to play freely and safely on their doorstep - by neighbours agreeing to temporarily close their street to through traffic. Sessions usually last for between two and five hours and can be held weekly, fortnightly or monthly; on week days after school, or during weekends. It is up to you and your neighbours to decide. My kids still talk about "the day we closed the road and played games with all our friends, without any cars coming," and cannot wait until the next time. Tina, Camden WHY start a play street? DID YOU KNOW? Some 80 per cent of public space in London is made up of streets.? We've helped lots of people set up play streets, so we know they mean: • More active, happy children (with friends next door). • Friendlier, safer communities (where people know their neighbours). • Regular opportunities for everyone to have fun.
Screenshot of a website page. At the top it says Click on a marker to discover play spaces Or click on a borough to discover adventure playgrounds and play streets in that borough. We'd love to hear about your favourite play places too. Tell us and we will add them to the map. Beneath this text is a colourful map broken into the various borough council areas of London.
Photo of about 10 children playing on a street which has been closed to vehicles. There are chalk marking all over the tarmac surface. 3 children in the foreground appear to be pushing children's toy vehicles (sit-on pedal tractors and karts) up the gentle slope of the roadway, so that they can presumably roll back down again!
Screenshot which reads Play is important. It is deemed so vital to children's health, happiness and development that the right to play is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. But play in London is under attack: Space for play is threatened by encroaching development and traffic. Freedom to play is stifled by distorted perceptions of risk, and fear. Time for play is eaten up by homework, organised activities & screen-based entertainment. Funding for play workers and play spaces is increasingly scarce. (This screenshot taken from https://londonplay.org.uk/about-us/our-purpose/)
A photo of a quote that has been handwritten onto a white board which has been affixed to wooden fencing. It reads: "The more risks you allow your children make, the better they will learn to look after themselves." Roald Dahl
A close-up photo of the hinge side of a swing gate. The pull pin is locked with a bright red type of lock. A person walks past on the footpath.
A video of how the swing gates work. It is (standard Paris) brown with a white sign with red border and red fire engine icon and black text which reads "fire access". The swing gate is hung from a post. There is a pull bolt on the hinge side. When pulled, it can't be pulled fully out of the gate. When slide in, it prevents the gate from swinging open. A simple and elegant design. It can be locked with an optional lock, which are a standard bright red. There is no lock in this instance.
Parisian school street. 3 storey buildings. Footpath, single vehicle lane, footpath. Along the right hand side footpath there is a row of traffic barriers. In line with them is a swing gate, which is swung open, leaving the roadway open to vehicles. There are 4 traffic signs stacked on the right hand side, indicating as follows... - Watch out for children - Driving into the area is not permitted, except for local access. - Parking is not permitted, except for bicycles. - Drive very slowly (translates as "at a walking pace") - Pedestrian priority
Paris street. Blue sky with some clouds. 5 to 7 storey buildings both sides, giving the street a slightly narrow or vertical feel. The street is pedestrianised all the way across, paved with a sandy coloured surface. To the right of the image, a woman sits on a bench. Behind is a row of dense, low, greenery. To the left of the image is a clear and wide route through the street, being used by several people to walk through.