New elevated walkway on the Marina Park opens - Oct 2025

The new elevated walkway in the Marina Park in Cork City opened in the last few days and it looks great. This provides an alternative path from the old railway line down to the Atlantic Pond.

It also has Barrington's Folly now as a feature which was hidden for decades in undergrowth.

There are also a small number of trails covered in bark mulch for additional loops.

Photos on the Running in Cork Facebook page HERE

It would be a great to see this used as part of a race route in the future? Cork Half-Marathon? Too narrow?

Marina in Cork City reopens - Dec 2024

The Marina in Cork city has been closed for most of 2024 as contractors work on the major refurbishment of the park. During the last week however, they re-opened the Marina itself while other parts of the new park will take a few more months.

The photo above shows the area at the entrance to Holland Park where the new slides are. They really have made an excellent job if it.

The photo above shows the Marina section by the Atlantic Pond and as you can see, the surface is really smooth. It's perfect for anyone roller blading or kids on scooters.

It's also of course perfect for running. The old road surface was pretty poor and even that was an improvement on what it was about 20 years ago when I used to run on it in the dark. The only light was from across the river and it was impossible to make out the potholes and raised edges.

The new Marina won't mean anything unless cars can't get access and with that in mind, there are bollards at both ends.

The photo above shows the city end of the Marina with bollards preventing access to vehicles. The three thicker bollards on the left are retractable which allows access for maintenance staff.

If any race organisers are thinking about using the Marina as part of a route in future, the bollards might be an issue.

When the whole Marina Park project is completed, this will be one of the premier city parks in Cork City.

It's also worth mentioning that some thanks should go to the city councillors who have supported this Marina project since the beginning. 

It's hard to believe now but one former councillor in Mayfield was against the project because he thought the Marina should be kept as a road so that 'old people can be taken for a spin on Sundays'. You couldn't make it up.

Fair play to Cork City Council for a job well done. Now for the parkrun...

Elevated walkway fitted at the Marina Park in Cork City - Nov 2024

Works are continuing on upgrading the extensive new park at the Marina in Cork City and Cork City Council recently released some photos showing the new elevated walkway that is being installed.

This section is located near Barrington's Folly which is just to the east of the Atlantic Pond.... shown below in purple. It seems likely that a lot of the work will be completed by early 2025 and the whole project by the end of the year. 

Over the next decade or so, there are plans for large residential developments in this general area and across the water in Tivoli which will hopefully be linked by a new bridge.

As so many people will be living in this area in the future, it raises the question of whether a parkrun is viable? Be it a 5k for adults or a 2k for juveniles.

There are loads of paths to make some routes and the greenway to Rochestown could be used for an out and back section if needs be.

Is anyone interested in this be it as an organiser or a participant?

Parkrun have a contact page here is anyone wants to try and get something going... https://www.parkrun.com/about/join-us/start-your-own-event/

Phase 1 of the Marina Park in Cork City to open in Nov 2021

In response to a query, Cllr Kieran McCarthy of Cork City Council was informed that Phase 1 of the new Marina Park would open in November of 2021.

"The opening of Marina Park Phase 1 is scheduled for mid to late November, if issues arise during completion of the remaining works, Council will be advised of this."

The photo above shows the area under development which is just to the south-west of Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

From a running point of view, this will allow for more loops for short runs and the venue with a coffee dock could well become the focal point for any groups doing a run and having a cuppa afterwards.

As the various elements of this project come to fruition then it's not hard to imagine the potential of a weekly 5k parkrun here taking in the park and the Marina.

Public consulation on keeping the Marina in Cork City pedestrianised

Reminder: Public consultation on keeping the Marina pedestrianised closes Mon 2nd Nov 2020

* * * * *

 

Cork City Council recently announced plans to close a number of roads in the city to traffic and one of those is the Marina. This was closed to traffic due to to the COVID pandemic to allow the public more space for exercising and social distancing.

The short term plan is for it to remain closed to traffic until the end of the 2020 but the Council now plan to keep it pedestrianised. That however is subject to public approval.

The Cork City Council notice is HERE

You can give the council feedback on the proposal HERE (registration required but it's free).

The Marina is one of the most popular spots in Cork City for walkers, runners and cyclists alike. It's vital that this public amenity doesn't revert back to being a rat run for cars and vans again.

I'd ask you to consider making a submission in support of the closure to traffic and keep it as a public amenity. Submissions close on the 2nd of November 2020.

New improved car park at the Marina in Cork City

 

Some welcome news! Cork City Council have put in a new car park for the Marina. This will be great for anyone wanting to walk, run or cycle out along the Marina and up the Greenway towards Mahon.

There is a real lack on nice routes in the centre of Cork City and the Mahon/Blackrock loop is probably one of the few nice ones. This new car park will be of benefit to those not living near this excellent public facility.

The map above shows the location of the new car park. Anyone familiar with this area will know that this used to a narrow road with a rough surface and the grass area was liable to turn to mud in wet weather.

With the COVID-19 restrictions, the plan is for the Marina to stay pedestranised until at least the end of December 2020. Hopefully it will stay like that and won't revert back to a rat run for cars.

At the moment, the path to the west ends at the Shandon Boat Club. It's my understanding that the eventual plan is to have a walkway all of the way along the river into the centre of Cork City.

Video about the new car park from Cllr. Des Cahill...

Positive works continue on the Marina with new greenway & cycleway almost complete & parking spaces near the pedestrianised marina
This is at the city end of the marina adjacent to @ShandonBoatClub & @LeeRowingClub pic.twitter.com/P7Q7i22iOh

— Des Cahill (@CllrDesCahil) August 30, 2020

 

Progress on new Marina Park in Cork City

It looks as if there is some movement on the new proposed Marina Park in Cork City! Funding has been secured to develop the old show grounds which is adjacent to the Pairc Ui Chaoimh stadium.

The following information was secured after a Freedom of Information request...

One of the big changes is the removal of the steam between Pairc Ui Chaoimh and the Lee Rowing Club and it will be diverted onto the existing stream to the south of the GAA grounds.

While this project will improve access for running and walking in that general area, it should probably be seen as the first step in the overall development of this new park. If the whole Marina was pedestrianised at weekends then it raises the possibility of holding a weekly 5k parkrun there.

Perhaps ;o)

More drawings and info can be seen on the Marina Park account on Twitter.

€3.5 million grant announced for the development of the new Marina Park in Cork City

It was announced yesterday (19th Jan 2016) that there would be €3.5 million grant for the development of the new Marina Park in Cork City. This is coming from the European Regional Development Fund so it's actual funding as opposed to some notional election promise.

 This ties in with the ongoing re-development of the Pairc Ui Chaoimh GAA grounds and the map below shows the area concerned...

At first glance, it would seem to be of little interest from a running point of view but if the overall plan is looked at in more detail then it does in the longer term.

1) The final plan is to have a walkway alongside the River Lee from the City Centre to the Marina. See red dots.

"MARINA PARK - CITY CENTRE CONNECTION
There is an aim to connect the footpath along the quay wall, linking Marina Park and City Centre. Preference is for connection along the back of the boat storage facility of the Shandon Boat Club. This is an essential, but long term goal. Essential repairs to quay walls should be part of this construction. A multifunctional profile for the Marina in which boulevard, tow path, pedestrians, skating and vehicular traffic (possible public transport at a later date), have been accommodated."

2) In the shorter term, the Marina will be pedestrianised.

"The Marina roadway running alongside the River Lee will be pedestrianised and transformed into a wide promenade for walkers, joggers and cyclists."
"Strategy: Spaces are to be designed primarily for pedestrians, with cars behaving as guests."

3) The area on the Marina between the Centre Park Road and the ESB power station is to be re-developed. Many of you will know as the area where the Cork BHAA HSE 4 mile race finishes. At the moment, it's a bit of a cul-de-sac but once the direct pedestrian link to the City Centre is established, this section will be used a lot more.

Top...Current view, Bottom..Post development

4) New jogging track?? I'm not sure if this is just a concept or if it will make it into the final plans. See purple dots below...

"A new pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure is to be developed for the new users of the park. The aim is to provide for all kind of users from pedestrians, joggers, cyclists and others and to offer a wide variety of experiences through the park, from easily accessible multifunctional routes, to more challenging adventure trails. Some general starting points for the Marina Park’s new pavement infrastructure include the following.

Jogging track
Several distances indicated along the route and fitted with electronic timers."

5) Old Railway Line.....There will also be some cleaning of the surrounding areas and better lighting at the Marina end (See #3 on map).

"THE OLD RAILWAY LINE...The railway line is lined with sporadic informal plantings of tree stands. Many of the trees are partially covered in ivy and enclose the railway route with undergrowth making it unsafe to use in the evenings and blocking views into the surrounding park. We propose to improve the experience of this walkway by removing the ivy and undergrowth along the top of the railway line to improve visibility to the surrounding areas of the park and to make the route better for users"

6) Parking and Lighting......The most immediate impact is likely to be better parking and better lighting at night in some areas. There are no plans to light up all of the Marina because of the potential effects on wildlife.

In the long term, the artists impression below shows what the area might look like. There is a new bridge planned across the River Lee which will connect the Marina with Tivoli. This will have a major impact for runners living in Mayfield, Montenotte and Tivoli as it will give them direct access to the Mahon-Blackrock loop.

The Centre Park road will become much busier and it's almost certain that the usual 5k race loop that is used at present (eg. John Buckley Sports 5k) will be a thing of the past. It won't mean that races can't be held there, just that a new route that most likely takes in the old railway line.

All of that is of course very much in the future. The new bridge will block all cargo ships and the Port of Cork will have to be moved out to Ringaskiddy before anything can happen.

Further info...
1) The Marina Park Master Plan can be seen HERE (Note that it's 59MB!)
2) The Evening Echo has an article HERE