Love Our Laneways
Love Our Laneways was a pilot project led by A Playful City in partnership with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCC), aimed at revitalising Pearse Drive Laneway—locally known as “the Gaps”—in Sallynoggin. Faced with challenges such as poor lighting, uneven surfaces, safety concerns and neglect, the laneway was, underused and uninviting. The project engaged the local community and key stakeholders through workshops, surveys and meanwhile use trialling to co-create a shared vision for a safer, greener and more accessible public space that reflects community aspirations.
Using a collaborative, phased approach, Love Our Laneways demonstrated how community-led, bottom-up placemaking can transform undervalued urban spaces. Partnering with local organisations including IADT and Sallynoggin College of Further Education and supported by local authorities and residents, the pilot formally evolved into a full programme in 2025—delivering a sustainable, inclusive model for public realm improvements that foster community connection and wellbeing.
“What makes this project truly unique is that it is entirely community led.”
- Frank Curran, Chief Executive, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council,
Love Our Laneways Launch Event
Listening – Learning – Delivering
At A Playful City, we begin by listening—engaging communities, clients and stakeholders to understand how people feel about their spaces and how they’d like them to feel. We take an emotions-led approach that values children and young people as key contributors.
Next, we learn—translating insights into prototypes and real-time tests that ask, “Did we hear you correctly?” This playful phase helps refine what works and shapes strategic, community-driven interventions.
Finally, we deliver a living community brief—a practical, insight-based roadmap that supports long-term change, fosters local ownership and seeds the next chapter of playful, inclusive placemaking.
Summer Consultation PopUp
