Towards a Liffey Valley Strategy Doc. 1 - Kildare.ie

forty park attributes, for example, playgrounds or surfaced paths. The
ratings accorded to a seven point scale scanning a range from none-someplenty
or “not important”-“somewhat important”-“essential”, depending
on the nature of the attribute. The results permitted a straightforward
analysis of ratings and a Principal Components Analysis of respondent
type.
66 .. 22..22 QQuueessttioonnnnaairree i i rreettuurrnnss
A total of 95 questionnaires were returned of which three were unusable.
The response rate at 19% was above the minimum of 15%, but rather
disappointing considering that the survey was addressing a local issue.
The most probable reason for the rather low response is that the issue had
no relevance for a proportion of recipients who either rarely visit the Liffey
Valley or rarely use parks. Previous surveys of park use in Dublin have
indicated that 46% of the population visit parks at least every 2-3 months
with occasional use by an additional 10%. 1
66 .. 22..33 SSaammpplee l aarreeaa
Some indication of the response rate is provided by the narrow corridor
from which most replies were received. Questionnaires had been sent to
people living within five kilometres of the Liffey Valley. The rationale for
this approach was that such an area would capture the majority of potential
users. Previous surveys have indicated that journeys by foot, bicycle or car
all fall around an average of eleven minutes, while most park users live
within just half a mile. 2 However, it is accepted that a Liffey Valley Park
would be a regional and possibly unique park that could attract more
distant users, especially if more specialist facilities are provided.
Of those who responded to the survey, 67% live within a 20 minute journey
of the Liffey Valley. Of these, around two thirds typically walk to their
nearest point on the Liffey Valley, which suggests that most of the
respondents live within just two kilometres of the Liffey. Only 7% of
respondents travel for more than 30 minutes.
The majority of responses were from Lucan, but with good numbers
received also from the Leixlip, Celbridge and the Dublin City area (e.g.
Chapelizod, Inchicore, Kilmainham).
(1) 1 For example, Bullock (GREENSPACE 2004) reference to LMS Omnibus rather than postal survey.
(2) 2 Bullock (2004), Wallace (2000), Gormley (1980).
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