Proposed Master Plan for the Tramore Valley Park...

As anyone who lives in Cork City will know, there is a genuine shortage of quiet areas away from traffic that are suitable for running and recreational activities. Unlike Dublin with it's Phoenix Park, Cork has very small parks by contrast and anyone wanting to go for a training run has to use the walkways around Mahon, the UCC Farm or take to the footpaths.

Cork City Council now have a master plan for the development of the old Kinsale Road landfill site into a new urban park called the Tramore Valley Park...

Included in it are plans for walking and running trails...

There is also a plan to build a 'green bridge' across the South Ring Road to link to Frankfield...

and then through some wooded area to the residential areas...

Needless to say, some aspects of the plan like the bridge will require a substantial amount of finance to build but some of the simpler parts of the plan like the pathways should be reasonably easy.

In late 2011, there was a 5k charity race there and it did look pretty 'raw' at that stage. With some landscaping and as it matures, it could well become the 'Phoenix Park' of Cork.

The master plan can be seen HERE

Race notice...Tramore Valley 5k - Sat 26th Nov 2011

This new race in Cork City's newest park is coming up on Saturday, the 26th of November at 11am. The old Kinsale Road landfill site is in the process of being delevoped into a new grassland park for Cork City and this is hopefully the first race of many at this venue.

The name of the new park will be the Tramore Valley Park based on the fact that the local river/stream is the Tramore river which begins in the hills to the south of Togher and passes the new park before joining the harbour in Douglas.

The race will be 5 kms in lenght and it is basically 2 laps around the perimeter of the park. The race will cost €8 to enter and all proceeds from the race will be going to Marymount Hopsice.

Prizes: First 5 individual men and ladies thereafter category prizes for men and ladies Over 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60.

First 3 men’s and first 3 lady’s prizes sponsored by The Edge Sports Shop
www.theedge-sports.com

Other Facilities:    Ample parking facilities near the Start/Finish area. Toilets will also be available. Note that only very limited (if any) changing facilities are available. Please come prepared. Light refreshments served afterwards.
Access Permission granted by Cork City Council
Athletic Permit granted by Athletics Ireland
Certified measured course using Jones Counter by John Walshe (Ballycotton Running Promotions)
Race results produced by Ballycotton Running Promotions

The flyer for the race can be seen HERE

So the date for your diaries is Saturday the 26th of November at 11am. Full preview closer to the date.

Race in new park in Cork City at the end of November...

In an earlier post, I covered the development of the Kinsale Road landfill site into a new grassland park for Cork City and how it might be used for running or races in the future.

While the new park is not supposed to be open to the public until 2012 at the earliest, it looks as if runners will be able to get a sneak preview at the end of November.

The name of the new park will be the Tramore Valley Park based on the fact that the local river/stream is the Tramore river which begins in the hills south of Togher and passes the new park before joining the harbour in Douglas.

The race will be 5 kms in lenght and it is basically 2 laps around the perimeter of the park. All proceeds from the race will be going to Marymount Hopsice.

Once this park is open next year, it should be a great place to go for a short run without having to worry about traffic and the like. It may also become a regular venue for 5k races in the heart of Cork City and maybe even the development of Park Races as covered in an earlier post in August.

So the date for your diaries is Saturday the 26th of November at 11am.

More details closer to the event...

Cork City's new park........suitable for running?

Following on from the previous post about the proposed development of the UCC Farm in the west of the Cork City, it might be worth having a look at a potential new area.

The old city dump which later became the Kinsale Road Landfill Site is in the process of being developed into a new park for Cork City. Located just off the South Ring Road, it is central to the city and is within easy access of the main road network.

The photo above shows the UCC Farm on the left with the area used for by runners in orange. The landfill site is shown on the right on the same scale. As you can see, it is a substantial area.
The present plan involves covering part of the site with a layer of clay and then putting down a shallow layer of topsoil (~1ft in depth) over the 170 acre site. The end result should be a basic park with grass with some area set aside for playing pitches.
At present, they are drawing up a final development plan for the park which hopefully will include plenty of trails. It is thought that it may be open to the public some time in 2012.

Just out of interest, I measured a rough route around the perimeter of the proposed park on MapMyRun. It works out as roughly 2.5 kms. Two laps would be perfect for a ParkRun event mentioned in an earlier post!! ;o)