New park makes progress

The new park planned for the northside of the city has taken another step forward.

It comes as Cork City Council has issued tenders for the appointment of a multi-disciplinary design team for the North West Regional Park.

Local Fianna Fáil Cllr Tony Fitzgerald said the park will cover many acres of ground in the Knocknaheeny, Fairhill and Kilmore Road area, centred around the old water tower.

He said it will include many amenities including wood and parkland walks, sports pitches, a pitch and putt course, children's playgrounds and hard surface courts for sports like basketball and tennis.

He said: “It would be a major regional park for the area. I understand that the appointed team is being tasked with the production of an overall masterplan for the proposed North West Regional Park. It will also assist with the Part 8 planning process for the first phase of the park’s development.”

Cllr Fitzgerald continued: “The development of the new park is a specific objective of the current development plan and sufficient lands have been zoned to support this end. I am delighted to hear that council expect to be appointing the team very shortly and members will be updated on progress as the master plan is developed over the course of the coming year,”

He said that it is envisaged that the facility will be of regional park status, circa 100ha in scale.

“Cost estimates will be developed as the master planning exercise is progressed and the facility will be planned in a way that it can be delivered in a number of phases as required,” he added.

Cllr Fitzgerald stated that Cork Ciy Council have access to €5.5m which can kick start the design and planning phases.

“Costs and funding thereafter are yet to be determined. This is a project that I have campaigned for over many years. I am delighted with the progress it is making but in the meantime the community needs a replacement for Kilmore Park which is unused at the moment,” he concluded.