The Phoenix Park in Dublin is one of only two parks in the world to receive a prestigious Gold Award in the Inaugural International Large Urban Parks Awards organised by World Urban Parks based in Canada. The awards recognise the quality of Parks across the globe, the skills of the people who manage them and the value they bring to the cities they serve. The only other winner of a gold award by World Urban Parks is Centennial Park, in Sydney, Australia.
As the world’s urban population will double from 3.5 billion to over 7 billion in the next 40 years the awards are dedicated to supporting the development of parks and open spaces as critical elements in creating vibrant cities and healthy communities. The Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed public park in any capital city in Europe and receives up to 10 million visitors every year. The Park is home to an abundance of flora & fauna including over 500 wild fallow deer, historic landscapes & monuments. In addition, The OPW Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, Dublin Zoo, The Victorian Walled Garden and Áras an Uachtaráin are all located within the Park.
The International Large Urban Parks Award enables cities around the world to benchmark their performance and understand where improvements could be made. Winners are categorised as gold, silver or bronze across on 4 main criteria which are
- Park Design and Layout
- Features and Facilities
- Protection and Community Engagement and Involvement
- Park Management and Maintenance
Commenting on the award Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Flood Relief said, “Huge congratulations to the OPW team at the Phoenix Park who work tirelessly to ensure it is a wonderful tranquil space in the heart of the City. This award puts the Phoenix Park on the world stage and showcases Dublin as a green city with the Park providing invaluable health, recreational and environmental benefits for so many communities.”
The recipients of the 2018 International Large Urban Parks Award are: –
| Gold | Phoenix Park, Dublin (Ireland) | for its preservation of a well-protected and managed large heritage park, with a broad range of activities and events, serving the city of Dublin, in cooperation with its citizens.
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| Gold | Centennial Park, Sydney (Australia) | for its well managed and protected mix of rich nature, well preserved heritage and provision of a good range of activities, in cooperation with the community in the heart of the densely populated inner Sydney. | |
| Silver | Rivierenhof Park, Antwerp (Belgium) | for its mix of rich nature, preservation of heritage and provision of activities, with ongoing improvements after consultations with the citizens of Antwerp. | |
| Bronze | Auckland Domain/Pukekawa (New Zealand) | for its well protected and managed parklands, its supply of recreation opportunities and preservation and interpretation of indigenous culture in cooperation with community. | |
| Eco Park, Kalkota (India) | for its variety of attractions, large open space and gardens serving the outer suburban areas of Kalkota. | ||
| Parque del Agua, Zaragoza (Spain) | for its inventive re-use of Ebro and a former exhibition area, supplying water attractions and recreational opportunities for citizens of Zaragoza. |
