Dutch firm wins €600k contract to design public park in Cork

A Dutch firm has been awarded a €600,000 contract to design a massive new public park in Cork city to rival Dublin’s Phoenix Park.

Okra Landscape Architects, which has won several major awards for its design work around the world, was selected from a shortlist of six based in Ireland, France, and Germany, after the contract to design Marina Park was advertised internationally in late 2010.

It is expected the master plan will be completed by end of the year, or early next year.

The firm will have to draft plans to consolidate about 32 hectares of land in the city’s south docklands — an area around Páirc Uí Chaoimh and including the Atlantic Pond — into a high-quality city park.

Its architects will have to factor in controversial GAA plans to develop a centre of excellence alongside its flagship stadium, which is also earmarked for a revamp.

It follows a city council vote last week to rezone a parcel of land to facilitate the GAA’s plans.

The GAA is expected to lodge a planning application for the centre of excellence and the stadium redevelopment this summer.

Local residents have vowed to object to the centre of excellence, which will include an all-weather playing pitch and a 1,000-seat stand, because they said it will effectively sever the proposed Marina Park.

Independent Cllr Mick Finn said he believes the vast lands around Páirc Uí Chaoimh can accommodate both the GAA’s expansion plans, and the development of Marina Park.

“The area could be developed along the same lines as AAMI Park is Melbourne, Australia,” he said.

The 30,000-seat stadium is situated within the Melbourne sports precinct along with the MCG, Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena — all of which are based in a vast landscaped public park.

Marina Park is a key part of the city council’s overall Cork Docklands regeneration plan which aims to revitalise 162 hectares of brownfield lands to the north and south of the River Lee and next to the city centre.