New amenities planned for Cork regional public park

A significant expansion at one of Cork’s largest public parks is on the cards after planning was secured for new walkways.

Cork County Council has cleared a Part 8 planning application for the development of new wheelchair and buggy accessible tarmac walkways at the eastern end of Ballincollig Regional Park. The new walkways will run through an area of council-owned land adjoining the park but which is not formally part of the park.

The six-acre site is accessed by the public informally and is unmanaged.

However, officials said the creation of the new walkways through this site, and its formal inclusion into the park, will create a better link from east to west through the full length of the park.

They said it will help eliminate any current anti-social behaviour in that section as well as building on the ‘family fun’ designation of the park which was set out in a masterplan for the area adopted in 2012.

The new 1.6km tarmac walkways will start at the end of the existing tarmac path at the park’s timber bridge and follow the route of an existing gravel path past the recently opened public allotments.

They will continue into the non-park area before linking up with an existing gravel path again within the park boundary. They will include benches, passing points, and resting places for wheelchair users. It is also proposed to install way markers, information signs and bins.

The 132-acre Regional Park is on the south bank of the river Lee on the western outskirts of Ballincollig.

Gunpowder was made there from the 18th century to the start of the 20th century, and the park contains canals and the remains of some 52 structures associated with the gunpowder-making process.

Today, the park is one of the region’s largest and most popular public amenities with soccer and rugby pitches, outdoor gym equipment, a skate park, and a state-of-the-art children’s playground. However, the landmark concrete weir in the heart of the park which collapsed last December has still not been repaired.

An engineering report produced last month estimated the bill for long-term repairs at between €450,000 and €550,000. The works could include the construction of a new fish pass which is likely to cost up to €70,000.