Call to introduce a free park and ride at park on Cork city's northside

At the most recent local area committee meeting of the council’s north west ward, Sinn Féin’s Kenneth Collins proposed introducing a free park and ride at the Sam Allen Park.

This could use the existing 80 car parking spaces, and also add more spaces on the land on either side of the park.

This park and ride would service a number of bus routes, including the 202 and 202A from Hollyhill to Mahon and the 201 from Mayfield to Bishopstown.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council management said the authority is currently assessing the existing Sam Allen Park car park as a potential public car parking facility.

“Any future use of the car park will need to consider its function, accessibility, and connectivity to the wider transport network,” said the spokesperson.

However, they added: “The suggested extension of the car park onto the lands located on either side of the existing parking area would be contrary to the objectives of the Cork City Development Plan, as these lands are designated as public open space and are intended to be retained for amenity and environmental purposes.”

Loss of parking spaces

Mr Collins had previously called for the expansion of car parking at the park due to the loss of parking outside the Parochial Hall as part of the €7m Knockpogue/Knockfree Ave active travel scheme, where 12 trees out of 22 which were marked down for felling as part of the scheme were recently saved, after a campaign by locals.

Mr Collins also asked at the meeting if internal roads on Knockpogue Avenue, Knockfree Avenue, and Knockpogue Park could also be resurfaced as part of the active travel scheme.

He was told that following the recent watermain upgrade works by Uisce Éireann along Knockpogue Avenue and the adjoining roads, the utility company would be returning to complete the permanent reinstatement at those locations.

“Cork City Council will continue to monitor the condition of the internal roads and will consider any further resurfacing requirement after this,” said a spokesperson.