Status: LIVE (concept stage)
CHALLENGE:
Whilst barbecues can provide people with a sociable way of gathering, many people in Dublin City do not have the space or permission to socially gather or have a barbecue at their home.
(Families enjoying traditional barbecues in the OPW-managed Phoenix Park in 2014, despite not being permitted.)
In addition, barbecues (including the disposable type) are not usually permitted in any of the parks in Dublin City (whether managed by Dublin City Council or the OPW) due to safety, fire and damage concerns.
(A UK council seeking to manage safer usage and disposal of hot ashes from traditional barbecues in one of their parks.)
PROPOSITION:
Thousands of public (electric or gas) hotplates are deployed across Australia, in every possible location and socio-economic environment - including parks, waterfronts, beaches, student accommodation, luxury apartments, caravan parks, and even in prisons.
Would their addition to many of the public spaces in Dublin City, such as parks or beachfronts, create communal spaces for people to gather, cook and socialise whilst enjoying their surroundings?
TRIAL DESCRIPTION:
Fixed electric hotplates present significantly lower environmental and personal safety risks than charcoal and gas barbecues and also mitigate against smoke inhalation and burns, forest and building fires, atmospheric and environmental pollution, and food safety.
We have installed the first one in Ireland (in Herbert Park in Dublin 4) so that we can begin to explore and learn more about the idea - including whether, why and how people use it.
(We’ve stenciled a circle of leaves around the cooktop as a visual indicator to help adults keep children at a safe distance while cooking.)
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE:
This trial is free to use.
No booking is required, and the cooktop is available for use during the park's opening hours. A timer automatically shuts off the power outside of those hours. If another group is waiting to use the cooktop, users should clean up and move away to one of the nearby picnic tables with their belongings once they have finished cooking.
It's located here in Herbert Park, next to the Hive building, and near the playground and tennis courts. Next to it are several picnic tables, a drinking font and a waste bin. There are also public toilets (open until 6pm) at the nearby cafe.
To use the cooktop, first clean it and then press the START/STOP button on the cooktop to begin the sterilisation process before cooking. The light will flash red, increasing in frequency as the sterilisation cycle nears completion.
Once that has been completed, the START/STOP button will turn green indicating that you can now begin cooking.
You cook directly on the surface, you don't need to bring any fuel or trays. Just bring your own food, utensils and cleaning supplies. There is drinking water provided onsite.
The hotplate will automatically turn off after 20 minutes of cooking time. Or you can choose to repeat the same cooking period or to turn it off sooner.
Please click on the below image to read the cleaning and usage instructions in detail.
Here are two general videos from a public cooktop enthusiast in Australia which may also give you a general overview:
OUTCOMES:
We'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions.
We'd particularly love to hear from you if you use it! What did you use it for? What size was your group? Is there anything that you were unsure about, or any suggestions for improving it?
Let us know:
- in the comments below
- by emailing beta@dublincity.ie
- by tagging @dccbeta or using #CooktopBETA on social media
DECISION:
[Trial not yet complete.]
This trial will run for 6-12 months before being fully removed and dismantled - for testing elsewhere.
(The cooktop prior to assembly and installation.)
NEXT STEPS:
[Trial not yet complete.]
RELATED PROJECTS:
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Get involved in the conversation below.
Andreea , posted on 2024.06.25
Hello there
I was soo pleased seeing this ideea in the park,we have been tested it Sunday,it was great.We are a big family living in apartment so for us to fo a bbq is very hard,bow that is allowed anywhere anymore.This is a perfect place to do birthday parties,I am soo happy that something like have been in Dublin.Please put in more locations. Thank you
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Dublin City Council BETA, posted on 2024.06.25
Thanks Andreea, this is great to hear. Please spread the word - we’d love to see more people using it!
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Mathieu Norry, posted on 2024.07.17
I note this public BBQ is at the concept stage. Given DCC’s finite budget I’d much rather DCC focus on fulfilling its existing remit before considering providing services nobody asked for, such as providing adequate public waste bins, emptying the same waste bins before they’re overflowing, providing adequate security in Dublins parks especially on warm weather days, cleaning city streets etc I’m all for providing fun amenities that the public can use but let’s get the basics right before spending the DCC budget on public BBQs ... one final point, how often would the Irish weather actually be suitable for a BBQ anyway. DCC is currently failing to do what it’s supposed to, refocus on the job at hand, leave BBQs to others.
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Rory, posted on 2024.07.17
Hi,
Great initiative. I’ve used countless of these in my native Australia. They’re fantastic and there’s often a good community bonding which occurs when interacting and changing over with other bbq users. The double hot plate models, common in Aus, facilitate this even better. Always good to have some picnic tables nearby, not too close, so that people cook their food and then move away to the tables to vacate the grill for the next user. Otherwise they will often stand around to eat at the grill for longer periods.
I’d love to see more of these in DCC parks especially in areas where residents don’t have gardens for their own bbq’s. Rialto linear park, Ringsend park etc. Before the location was made public we jokingly speculated the trial would be in the poshest and most privileged park in the city, we weren’t wrong. Time to spread it out.
Thanks,
Rory
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Derek Bullock , posted on 2024.07.17
I think this is a great idea, adds value to public spaces . Well done for proposing this.
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Sylvia Power, posted on 2024.07.17
This is a fantastic idea and should be rolled out elsewhere. It will hopefully stop illegal BBQ fires, and as long as there are plenty of bins, there should be no trace left behind. Bunting Park in Walkinstown would be an excellent place to next trial this.
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Rory, posted on 2024.07.17
Without confirmed long term regular maintenance plans with guaranteed staffing and budget resources this is a horrendous idea. They would need to be checked multiple times a day.
What prevention of children using it and getting injured is there? Is there risk of it being used for violence? Does the council’s insurance cover either eventually?
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Patrick Coffey, posted on 2024.07.18
I think this is a really great idea!
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Richard Armstrong, posted on 2024.07.19
I love it. SUCH A GREAT IDEA. THEY WILL NEED TO BE WELL MAINTAINED so they don’t rust in the winter. Maybe an outdoor canope or something?
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Eilis Davenport, posted on 2024.07.31
Think about it. Can it be used in all weather conditions? Is there risk of it being vandalised like public toilets? Will DCC actually empty the bins provided? Or not provided? We don’t have the climate like Australia. I’m sure people who use Herbert park could use it as leisure use. Can we provide cooking facilities for people living in emergency accom/direct provision? We all know they aren’t anywhere near Herbert park. Happy to have further conversation.
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Dublin City Council BETA, posted on 2024.08.01
Can it be used in all weather conditions?
Is there risk of it being vandalised like public toilets?
>> The trial will help us to understand these.
Will DCC actually empty the bins provided?
>> There’s a bin very near the trial which is emptied very regularly. Waste generation and any impact on bins is one of the aspects that we’re hoping to learn about.
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Eamonn, posted on 2024.08.01
‘Thousands of public (electric or gas) hotplates are deployed across Australia, in every possible location and socio-economic environment - including parks, waterfronts, beaches, student accommodation, luxury apartments, caravan parks, and even in prisons.’
Just do this. Start the culture. Roll it out, along with more picnic tables and a water source at each location. Will need some strict enforcement of any abuse of the facilities to crack down on that from the start, but that shouldn’t stop the majority having nice facilities.
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