Google+ Running in Cork, Ireland: Tramore Valley Park used for Orienteering during the week

Friday, September 23, 2016

Tramore Valley Park used for Orienteering during the week

The last 5k parkrun to be held at the Tramore Valley Park in Cork City was back in January and since then, there has been very little news of it starting up again.

In the last week, Cork Orienteering Club held an event there with about 50 people taking part. As the numbers are always pretty small at orienteering events, parking there was never going to be an issue.


Section of the 5k course have got a new layer of grit in the last few months and it is now easier to run on.


As you can see, parts of Tramore Valley Park aren't exactly the most scenic but it is the only large park in Cork City.

So will the parkrun return soon? Cork City Council have said that the 5k parkrun won't be able to resume until the park officially opens. As for when it will open?? For the last few years, it has been 'opening next year' but there is still no sign of it opening. From what I understand, it is a financial issue.

During the Summer, there was an article in the Evening Echo in which a local councilor said as much...

Mr McCarthy said: “Once again the timeframe for opening this 160-acre park has been pushed out. Millions of euros have been invested into converting the landfill into one of the largest public parks in the country. It was an ambitious plan of conversion using top-level environmental engineers and experience and now at the last hurdle to open the park, the council are hindered by the recruitment embargo and compared to the millions needed to top soil the landfill, there are now small-scale financial limitations left to overcome such as employing park rangers.

The full article is here... http://www.eveningecho.ie/cork-news/call-fully-open-1-6-acre-tramore-park/2502010/

If you want to see the park open then the list of local city councilors is here if you want to contact them... http://www.corkcity.ie/yourcouncil/electedmembers/

Even if the park does open finally, I'm not sure if that will even be the end of it. Parking there will still be an issue especially if a lot of people turn up on a particular Saturday like they did during the time of Operation Transformation.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi John,

I'd get over the park run if the park and paths were open for public use. Do you have any idea when this might happen?

Thanks

Anonymous said...

They held the Munster schools cross country there at the start of the year, there weren't any issues with parking but then the running was done on the fields rather than the roads. I'd say ye can pretty much forget about Parkruns being held there as parking will always be an issue for big events. Perfect for cross country and orienteering though!

John Kissane said...

I had a chat with one of the people working there & it sounded like the pedestrian access from Half Moon Lane is open during the week but don't quote me on that. A few people told me as well they are showing up there on Sat morning the odd time to run the old parkrun 5k course.

Anonymous said...

ive been over there during the day at lunchtime for a run a few times as i work in the area,you can just drive in,i also heard that the reason that you cant walk to the park under the road via the park and ride is because the NRA or whoever is responsible for the road wont build a permanent walkway under the road(a temporary one was in place before .

John Kissane said...

A friend checked out pedestrian entry from Half Moon Lane and sorry to say the gates are closed during the week meaning only access is by driving in via the South Link entrance.