Harold's Cross

A new arts centre, a green cycle way and the village’s first secondary school are among “big win” targets in a blueprint to transform Harold’s Cross over the coming years.

And within the next year, sights are being set on bringing a monthly market into the area, launching a new street festival and developing a pop-up summer programme.

Community campaigners have drawn up a wish-list from residents as part of an effort to develop Harold’s Cross into Dublin’s healthiest, greenest and smartest village by 2025.

Nearly 100 locals came together recently at Harold’s Cross National School to help forge the 10-year strategy, which includes short-term and medium-term goals.

Paula Russell, of the Harold’s Cross Vision 2025 working group, said it will help guide talks with developers, planners, potential businesses, Dublin City Council and others about shaping the area into the future.

“This is a first step in a process to agree a 10 year vision for the care and improvement of Harold’s Cross village,” she said.

“The area has a beautiful park and a village feel, a vibrant annual festival, and an expanding range of businesses.

“It is an increasingly popular place for young professionals and young families to live in, while it retains its longstanding and diverse population.

“Our aim is to establish Harold’s Cross as the healthiest, greenest and smartest village in Dublin by 2025.”

Dozens of ideas for improving the village were voiced at the latest community gathering.

Among them were calls for a village library, allotments, yoga in the park, an open air cinema, a shop local loyalty card and traffic calming measures.

They were distilled down in recent weeks into an action plan.

It includes short-term, or “low fruit”, targets as well as longer term, or “big win”, goals.

Other aims over the coming year are a spring clean, mapping the village’s derelict sites, a car parking and pedestrian study and an online calendar for events in the area.

Big win aims, to be achieved within five years, include attracting a major business onto the main thoroughfare between Harold’s Cross Park and Kenilworth Corner as well as overhauled pedestrian and cycling facilities.

The Harold’s Cross Community Council want city chiefs to incorporate the proposals into the next Dublin City Development Plan, a wider blueprint for the capital.

They are also seeking volunteers to help drive forward the action plan.

From Low-Lying Fruit ….

:: Spring clean

:: Tidy Town committee

:: Map of derelict sites

:: Car parking pedestrian crossing study

:: Link up with other secondary school campaign groups

:: Online events calendar

:: Coder Dojo computer coding club for young people

:: Monthly market

:: PopUp summer programme

:: Street Fest

:: Flood warning system

To Big Wins……

:: A “Green Lung” route from the Grand Canal through Harold’s Cross, with improvements to parks and buildings along the way

:: New Dublin Bikes station and Green Cycle Way

:: A pedestrian friendly village, with car park support

:: A new secondary school

:: An anchor tenant to stimulate main thoroughfare between Harold’s Cross Park and Kenilworth Corner

:: A community centre incorporating an arts, enterprise and sports centre

:: Walking tours in the village

End

ASK NOT WHAT YOUR VILLAGE CAN DO FOR YOU…

But what can you do to help Harold’s Cross transform into Dublin’s healthiest, greenest and smartest village?

You can help the community achieve its goals over the coming weeks, months and years. You have relevant skills, experience or expertise that you could offer.  

You may have a particular interest in any of the low-lying fruit or big wins eyed in the 2025 Vision. Or even just a little time to do your bit?

Please get in touch as the 2025 team are now seeking volunteers to help drive forward the plan immediately.

You can contact them by email on haroldscross2025@gmail.com