Redeveloped Bishop Lucey Park will deliver a new park 'whilst respecting the past', says Lord Mayor

BISHOP Lucey Park will close to the public from tomorrow to facilitate enabling works ahead of a redevelopment of the amenity, which the Lord Mayor of Cork has said will deliver a new park for the modern era “while respecting the past”.

The closure of the park will facilitate enabling works such as the removal to storage of park furniture and advance investigative works.

Redevelopment works, commencing early in the new year, are expected to be completed in the early part of 2025.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council confirmed that the park is expected to remain closed throughout the duration of the construction works.

The redeveloped park, based on an award-winning architectural design by Hall McKnight Architects, will include improved access to the historic city wall, a new events pavilion and plaza, improved access and seating for all and a new tower to mark the eastern entrance.

The revamp of the city centre park is part of the wider regeneration of the Grand Parade Quarter, which will see a complete renewal of the area around the southern gateway to the medieval city, connecting Grand Parade and a series of historic lanes, streets and Bishop Lucey Park with the south channel of the River Lee and the city centre business core.

Commenting on the plans for the park, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Kieran McCarthy, said the redevelopment works are much-needed.

“There’s many parts of it that are very, very tired.

“There’s broken footpaths, broken walls, a fountain that doesn’t work – there’s many symbols within it that are from its time.

“The park opened to commemorate Cork 800 and I suppose we’re trying to create something that marks Cork 2023,” he said.

“It’s really great to showcase the medieval wall and the different heritage plaques that are in the space as well.

“There’s going to be a new Cumann na mBan memorial, a number of new trees planted and the paths will look great.” 

Independent councillor Mick Finn said the redevelopment of the park "will help to reconnect the modern Cork with its past". 

“It’s fair to say that the redesign plans for the park have been controversial but I am hopeful that the new, more accessible space will trump any of the negativity.

“I do have some concerns about how a more open space will be policed, but new lighting and permeability will hopefully offset these fears.” 

Meanwhile, Green Party councillor Dan Boyle said:

“Opening the park will be good, but I have never liked the reduction of green space proposed.

“It has to be seen with wider development work there on South Main Street and on Grand Parade outside the City Library.

“We badly need to increase the amount of green space to be found in the city centre.”