Design team to be appointed to create masterplan for new public park in Cork city 

An update from Cork City Council on the development of a new North West Regional Park has been welcomed, but a Cork City councillor said he had hoped for a shorter timeline on its delivery.

A design team should be appointed next month to draft a masterplan for the 100-hectare public park proposed for the northside of the city.

The park is an objective of the council as set out in the City Development Plan 2022-2028. 

The development plan proposes a facility that would include recreational areas with interconnected spaces, including parks, ecosystems, greenways, and blueways.

In response to a question asked by Sinn Féin councillor Mick Nugent, at a recent meeting of Cork City Council, the city’s head of infrastructure, Gerry O’Beirne, confirmed that tenders for the appointment of a multidisciplinary design team to progress the masterplan were issued in November 2023.

Mr O’Beirne said that the successful tenderer will be appointed in February and that preparation of the masterplan will be progressed thereafter.

Mr Nugent was informed at the meeting that it may be 12 months before a draft proposal for the new park would be presented to council members in advance of public consultation.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Nugent said: “I would have hoped for, ideally, a shorter timeline on its delivery, but at least there is going to be some movement, in the short term, in getting a masterplan of what is being looked at.

“I think it is useful that the council feels that there is an appropriate amount of land there for the park.

“Some land had been rezoned and I know city council was looking at speaking to landowners, but they feel there is enough land there to progress now to the next stages, in terms of putting out a tender and then moving on to design; so there is some progress there.”

Mr Nugent said he would be keeping the park “on the radar”, as it is “essential” for the northwest area.