The Wilton Park Impact Framework sets out our approach to measurement from 2023 to 2027. The methodology has been developed based on a detailed analysis of Wilton Park’s potential, drawing inspiration from global best practices and aligning with established technical methodologies where applicable.
We will aim to draw more footfall through Wilton Park’s core and attract additional families and children throughout the week.
We will be integrating complementary commercial destinations to make the area more inviting and appealing to residents, workers, and visitors.
We will be creating initiatives that spark emotional connection so more people feel like they belong in Wilton Park and want to be part of its growing identity.
The park is just one part of our significant plan for public realm improvements. The development has introduced new footpaths, street planting and better lighting. The social hub of our development is a new neighbourhood square named after the distinguished Irish writer Mary Lavin who lived in nearby Lad Lane.
We are committed to transforming Wilton Park into a neighbourhood that supports and celebrates creativity. A place that gives artists the resources and opportunities they need to make and share work. In 2019, we launched Wilton Park Studios in collaboration with the RHA Gallery and since then 15 Irish artists have availed of free 6 – 12 months residencies.
Our placemaking initiatives include doubling the seating capacity in the park and the area and supporting active commuting with bike parking and a drinking fountain. We anticipate that these facilities will encourage even more people to enjoy Wilton Park’s green amenities.
The area around Wilton Park is a thriving commercial district. A large number of workplaces and businesses have located here because of its connectivity and accessibility. As new occupiers move into the office buildings, we expect that local businesses will see an increase in their overall turnover due to a rise in foot traffic to Wilton Park and the surrounding neighbourhood.
Local resident
Audience Interviews
Siobhan Callaghan
Artist-in-Residence
Robert Townshend
Townshend Landscape Architects
Niall Gaffney
Chief Executive, IPUT Real Estate
What we do to achieve our objectives will be measured by the number and types of investments made in the public realm, programming, and governance of Wilton Park.
Four years ago, we launched our Making Impact research study with an ambition to better understand the relationship between placemaking investments and their social, cultural, environmental, and economic outcomes. Wilton Park has continued to come to life over the course of the Year Four study year. Public perception is at an all-time high, and local businesses are beginning to notice a positive improvement, and this is before the scheme reaches its full capacity.
Creating meaningful impact requires sustained leadership – especially when results accrue over multi-year horizons. Taking ownership of our vision for Wilton Park has required us to stay the course and remain accountable.
Building on our Year Two findings on the value of investing beyond our immediate footprint, this year confirmed that public realm impact rarely respects property lines. True placemaking flows seamlessly into surrounding urban spaces and natural landscapes rather than stopping at a site boundary.
While quality design creates welcoming spaces, active curation gives them a soul. Over the past year, we have transformed our event strategy into a cohesive, year-round calendar that turns routine visits into memorable experiences – fundamentally changing how the space functions day-to-day.
Wilton Park is now recognised as a placemaking benchmark, creating a positive ripple effect beyond the immediate neighbourhood. This holds particular weight given the growing focus on city-centre regeneration and public realm enhancements across Dublin.
Our arts and culture strategy increasingly prioritises long-term depth and continuity over transactional, short-term sponsorships. Expanding multi-year initiatives like “Writing Dublin at Wilton Park” and sustaining key residency programmes provides essential stability for artistic partners while embedding creative experiences directly into the fabric of daily life on-site.
As Wilton Park matures into an established destination, our community of invested voices is naturally expanding. Managing this growth means navigating competing priorities: balancing requests for a tranquil green oasis against demands for activation and events or
aligning preferences for manicured grounds with naturalised landscapes.
