Fun in the park
Image 1 of 9
Cllr Terry Shannon, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Colm Kelleher at a family fun day for the officially opening of phase one of Marina Park. Photos: Darragh KaneImage 2 of 9
Tom Mehigan, Blackrock.Image 3 of 9
Ciara and Sophia Crowe, Ballintemple.Image 4 of 9
Carolyna, Bryana and Nuala Coughlan, Rochestown.Image 5 of 9
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin and others doing a bit of gardening on the day!Image 6 of 9
Fionn O’Connell, Douglas.Image 7 of 9
Sean Boyle, Blackrock.Image 8 of 9
Gabriel Rossi from the Circus Factory.Image 9 of 9
Stevie G performing.The first phase of Cork’s newest park has been officially opened.
Marina Park will be six times larger than Fitzgerald’s Park and equivalent in size to Dublin Zoo when phase two is completed. The 146 hectare Cork Docklands is the largest regeneration project in the country and the 70 acre Marina Park will be its playground and a haven for biodiversity.
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin officially opened phase one on Sunday: “This exciting project at Marina Park is a world class facility in the heart of Cork city, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to creating sustainable communities and developing a sustainable way of living for future generations.
“The National Development Plan positions Cork as an emerging city of scale over the next 20 years with the population set to increase by up to 50%. Central to this transformation is the incredible opportunity that lies in the Cork Docklands which will become a town within a city. The 70 acre Marina Park will be its playground and a haven for biodiversity.”
Cork City Council Chief Executive Ann Doherty said: “The 146 hectare docklands will provide homes for over 20,000 and more than 25,000 jobs over the next 20 years with best in class transportation, public spaces, schools, medical and social services, restaurants, hotels and recreation facilities. This project will grow the heart of Cork city.”
The second and final phase of the Marina Park project is due to go to public consultation later this summer. Phase 2 will extend from The Atlantic Pond to Church Avenue and will include the nature zone of the park, accommodating picnic areas, boating facilities, adventure play areas, preserved marshland zone and several architectural heritage sites.