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

or more passive activity such as enjoying the surroundings. This recreation
contributes directly to welfare in the same manner as paying activities do
and, as such, is an economic benefit. This benefit can potentially be
quantified, although it can be difficult to apply a value to a specific park in
that recreation can be substituted by recreation taken elsewhere. However,
while the Liffey Valley area contains several public areas, few have the
unique river environment that can be offered by a necklace of publicly
owned spaces that would comprise the Liffey Valley Park. Therefore, such
a necklace of parks adjacent to the Liffey would possibly have a high value
due to this more unique environment.
In addition, parks provide indirect benefits. These include biodiversity
protection, moderation of climate, noise mitigation, particulate capture (air
quality improvements), hydrology (flood control and water quality) and
health. However, it is likely that there are significant benefits in terms of
noise mitigation and particulate capture from green space alongside the N4
in Dublin City. There will also be significant benefits from maintaining the
water quality of the Liffey given the use of this water for drinking.
Obviously a park is not the only means to protect water quality. Much can
also be achieved by development control and pollution management.
Nevertheless, there is still likely to be a significant economic benefit.
In addition, another potential indirect benefit for the Liffey Park is an
encouragement of bicycle commuting and the consequent savings in carbon
emissions and loss of working time as well as benefits to health. The
former are likely to be insignificant, but any association that can be
demonstrated with human health is assured to be important given the
savings on healthcare costs, maintenance of labour productivity and the
value attached to life (i.e. statistical value of life). Improved health through
greater exercise would be a significant positive benefit that could be
roughly estimated based on probable numbers of users and the other
physical activities in which they engage.
Studies of green space have demonstrated that people especially value the
protection from built development that a designated park provides. This
particularly applies where people are conscious of the value of their
property. It certainly appears to be a significant factor in the public survey
results undertaken as a part of this Strategy process.
OFFICE OF PUBLIC WORKS ERM IRELAND
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