Tolka Valley Park (Irish: Páirc Ghleann na Tulchann)[1] is a public park on the River Tolka, spanning the suburbs of Ashtown, Finglas and Glasnevin, in Dublin, Ireland.[2]

Tolka Valley Park
Páirc Ghleann na Tulchann
Wetlands at the confluence of Finglaswood Stream and River Tolka in Tolka Valley Park
Map
LocationDublin, Ireland
OSI/OSNI gridO131376
Coordinates53°22′37″N 6°18′04″W / 53.377°N 6.301°W / 53.377; -6.301
Administered byDublin City Council, Fingal County Council
HabitatsWoodland, wetland, grassland

Covering approximately 50 hectares (120 acres), sections of the park are laid-out over a former city landfill, while the eastern part of the park is located on the estate lands of the former Finglaswood House.[3] Some of park's wooded areas were planted in 2011,[3] while the wetland sections of the park were developed in 1999.[2] These "integrated constructed wetlands" were built at the confluence between the Finglaswood Stream and River Tolka, and designed to improve water quality and reduce pollution in the watercourse.[4][5] Sections of the River Tolka, within the park, have been stocked with salmon and trout.[6]

There are sports pitches, a par-3 municipal golf course,[2] and a pitch and putt course on the site.[7] As of 2018, it was reported that some of the park's sports pitches had been damaged by "scrambler bikes",[8] with issues of anti-social behaviour sometimes reported in the area.[9][10]

The eastern section of Tolka Valley Park, within the Dublin City Council authority area, spans westward from the Finglas Road in Glasnevin via Finglas to Ashtown.[11][2] A further section, sometimes referred to as "Tolka Valley Linear Park" or "Tolka Valley Regional Park",[12] extends into the Fingal County Council authority area, westwards from Blanchardstown to Mulhuddart.[12][13]

Illustration of the ruins of Finglaswood House c.1912

References

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  1. ^ "Páirc Ghleann na Tulchann / Tolka Valley Park". logainm.ie. Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Dublin City Parks - Tolka Valley Park". dublincity.ie. Dublin City Council. 22 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  3. ^ a b A Short Guide To Three Dublin City Woodlands - St. Anne's Park, Tolka Valley Park, Bushy Park (PDF). dublincity.ie (Report). Dublin City Council. p. 14. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  4. ^ "How green is my Tolka Valley?". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2022. This "integrated constructed wetland" [..] ICW's three ponds [..] filter storm water from nearby roads, protecting the river by slowing run-off flow, and absorbing the damaging detritus carried with it
  5. ^ Finglas Strategy - Baseline Analysis Report (PDF). dublincity.ie (Report). Dublin City Council. p. September 2021. Where it [stream] meets the River Tolka, DCC installed an Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW) in 2000 to reduce nutrient loading from the Finglaswood Stream to the River Tolka by pathway interception of pollutants. The wetland is composed of two cells
  6. ^ Environmental Report For The Ashtown / Pelletstown Local Area Plan Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Dublin City Council (PDF) (Report). Dublin City Council. December 2013. p. 61. The Integrated Constructed Wetlands mitigate flooding and support wildlife in the Tolka River Park [..] The river has been stocked with salmon and trout
  7. ^ "Tolka Valley Pitch & Putt". tolkavalley.ie. Dublin City Council. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  8. ^ "CCTV cameras installed in Dublin park four years ago never switched on". irishexaminer.com. Irish Examiner. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Nights of Ashtown horror escalate as crazed armed balaclava gang storm shop". dublinlive.ie. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Call for scrambler bikes to be seized for being used in public parks". irishexaminer.com. Irish Examiner. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Tolka Valley Park". discoverireland.ie. Fáilte Ireland. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Tolka Valley Regional Park". fingal.ie. Fingal County Council. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  13. ^ "Locations - Mulhuddart". fingal.ie. Fingal County Council. Retrieved 17 May 2022.