Free parking for Cork city aims to boost trade
City officials have, for the third year in a row, prepared the parking promotion in a bid to encourage footfall in the city centre.
Families are specifically being encouraged to visit the city centre on Saturdays, with confirmation that the hugely popular 30m Ferris wheel — which was one of the biggest attractions at last year’s Glow Christmas festival and market on the Grand Parade — will again be a central feature of this year’s event.
The city council has also invested in a new festive lighting system for Bishop Lucey Park. The festival attracted 165,000 visitors last year.
It should kick off towards the end of November, around the same time the city’s Christmas lights are turned on.
The councils’ roads committee has signed off on the free parking promotion, and recommended its adoption to council, which should happen next Monday.
The initiative will run at the council’s two public multi-storey car parks at Paul St, with 735 spaces, and at North Main St where 410 spaces are available.
If the initiative is rubberstamped on Monday, the free parking offers will kick in on Tuesday.
The offer provides for free parking in both car parks from 10am to noon, Monday to Thursday, and free parking on Thursday and Friday nights, from 6.30pm to midnight, in Paul St.
And from Saturday October 18, and for the following five Saturdays, the Black Ash park and ride will offer free parking at its 900-space car park near the Kinsale Rd roundabout.
