centre similar to modern developments elsewhere in Ireland. The shopping centre for now remains the largest shopping centre in Limerick after further expansion of the Dooradoyle mall in 2005. A playground was planned on the grounds of the centre in 2013. Building of the playground began in May 2014, and it officially opened in July 2014. Criticism The Crescent Shopping Centre is at times the subject of criticism due to the out-of-town nature of the development. The development mirrors the American model of large retail centres on the outskirts of towns with ample parking and easy access for customers. While the centre has been one of the most successful in Ireland, its success has come at a cost to the older established retailing areas within Limerick city centre, which have seen decline due to dropping footfall and subsequent lack of spend and investment, resulting in high levels of vacancy, with centres like the Crescent partly supplanting the city centre as key shopping districts. The well-documented potential negative knock-on effects to high levels of out-of-town development include increased sprawl of the city and car dependency, a reduction in tourism and appeal of the city as a potential destination area (tourism & living) and a decline in the socioeconomic profile of the city centre impacting negatively on the overall city economy. Although the Crescent centre is not the only cause for the city centre's decline it is often cited as one of the main reasons for Limerick's 'doughnut effect'. References Buildings and structures in Limerick (city) Shopping centres in the Republic of Ireland