Phase one of a scheme to restore Mountjoy Square park to its original Georgian design should be complete within 12 months, according to Dublin City Council.
The council has invited tenders for the restoration of perimeter railings on the west and part of the north sides of the historic north inner-city park.
The council published plans a year ago to remove a creche, community centre and sportsgrounds from the centre of Mountjoy Square and restore the park to its original design.
A spokesman for the council said on Wednesday the current tender is for the resoration of railings and that “it is hoped to have this phase completed within a year”. He added that the next phase of the scheme would be “funding dependent”.
Under the plans published in August 2014, the council proposed to relocated the non-original facilities in the park to other sites away from the historic square, reinstate the formal gardens and introduce tearooms and a bandstand.
Phase one of the project will involve the clearance of trees; pilot phase repair of the railings; reinstatement of the central lawn, planting beds and historic path layout as well as the installation of signage and seating at an estimated cost of €2.6 million.
Phase two, if it goes ahead, will involve the removal of existing buildings and the completion of railing repairs as well as improvements to foothpaths, planting beds and signage.
Phase three would involve the installation of tea rooms, a new bandstand, a themed playground and excercise facilities. Phase two and three would cost an estimated €2.1 million.
Mountjoy Square was first laid out in 1790 and the railed park at its centre was opened to residents of the square in 1805. By 1830, residents living in the surrounding neighbourhood were given access to the garden for one guinea per family a year. Six years later the general public could pay to enter and see military band performances.
Dublin Corporation took over the park in 1938, after which public toilets, a nursery and a community building were constructed, and the central lawn bisected with tennis courts screened by fencing. Later changes were made in the late 1960s when a park works depot was created and in 1993 re-planting and path resurfacing were carried out.
The original wrought iron railings survive, but are in poor condition and have lost their lamps and arches over the gates.
