WATCH: Marina Park ‘a facility that people of Cork deserve’

The Marina Park project is complete and all areas, including the Atlantic Pond and Sunken Garden, are now open, Cork City Council has said.

The reopened Atlantic Pond now has wider paths, new seating, and an amphitheatre-style area for people to sit and enjoy nature.

The project included the planting of about 200 semi-mature trees, along with over five acres of biodiverse planting. Three new bridges were built — Atlantic Pond Bridge, the timber deck bridge, and the elevated tree walkway.

Lord Mayor of Cork Fergal Dennehy told The Echo that the Marina Park project has resulted in a facility that can be enjoyed by all.

“We are now giving the people of Cork a park and a facility that they deserve,” said Mr Dennehy. “Last week we took down the last bit of fencing, completely opening it up.

“I think that the response from the public has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Going down to The Marina on a Sunday morning and seeing the hundreds of people who are out walking with their children, people walking dogs, people cycling — it just shows that it was something that the city really needed.

“I am absolutely delighted that the senior executive of Cork City Council and the local councillors had the foresight and the vision to take this on.

“The Marina and the docklands is somewhere where we will be developing considerably over the next number of decades, with light rail and proper transport infrastructure. But, more importantly, housing and business there as well.

“It is going to be an incredible place. This is an amazing starting point for all of that.”

Other developments as part of the project included the new playground and the conservation of historic features such as Barrington’s Folly, the Ice Cave/Boathouse, and Dundanion Castle slipway and heritage stone walls.

The completed park is five times the size of Fitzgerald’s Park.