A look at the 'Open for Play' day on the Marina... Sun 7th Oct 2018

In a new initiative called 'Open for Play', the Marina in Cork City will be closed to cars from 10am to 2pm on every Sunday during the month of October 2018.

 The first on was held on Sunday the 7th and the weather conditions were dry for the event. As can be seen from the photo below, the Marina was blocked at the city end at the barrier by Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Anyone going into or out of the GAA stadium could go about their business and it was the same for Shandon Boat Club and Lee Rowing Club.

 There was quite a number of people making the most of the closure with lots of families cycling or walking. Interspersed with all these, there was a good few runners just taking in the Marina as part of their route.

The Blackrock end was blocked at the barrier as can be seen below.

 This was by far the busier part of the Marina with children's games being set up on the road.

At the plaza in Blackrock village, the place was packed with the farmers market. At about 1pm, there were queues of about 20 people on some outlets.

The Marina closure on its own was a special event but in conjunction with the farmers market nearby, it kind of gave it an added purpose. Someone could visit the market and then go for a stroll down the Marina.

Some people will want the Marina closed for the whole weekend, some don't want it closed at all. The key for me though is to have it almost as a feature of the local farmers market. If the market is open then the Marina should be closed. 

I couldn't help but think how the whole farmers market and closed road made such a nice alternative to the new family pastime of strolling around a shopping centre on a Sunday afternoon.

The Marina will be closed to traffic again from 10am to 2pm on Sunday the 14th, 21st and 28th of October 2018.