The voluntary arts collective UpStart transforms a derelict Dublin site into Granby Park.
Over a three week period a derelict council site at Lower Dominick Street in Dublin has been regenerated by the voluntary arts collective UpStart.
UpStart co-founder Sam Bishop explains their creation, Granby Park, is
A mixture between a mini festival and a garden.
The pop-up park, the first of its kind in the country has been financed through a crowd funding campaign. Granby Park contains a children’s play area, polytunnels and even an amphitheatre made from recycled wooden pallets. It will host a range of events from sing-alongs to drama and poetry.
In the month to come, community spokesperson Gerry Carney is certain Granby Park will provide those living nearby in the Lower Dominick Street flats with a whole new perspective on their locality.
People in these flats have never seen anything like it on an open scale like that.
More than 300 volunteers have pitched in to work on Granby Park. Volunteer Tina Robinson finds people in the area are very positive about the transformation. One local woman calls the colourful city centre space,
Absolutely beautiful.
Although the park is temporary, Sam Bishop hopes other communities around the country will be inspired to do something similar on a vacant site near them.
Granby Park is free to visit and is open seven days a week from 22 August - 22 September 2013.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 22 August 2013. The reporter is Philip Bromwell.
