Bishop Lucey Park closed for at least 12 months
Bishop Lucey Park has officially closed its gates to the public as of yesterday, Wednesday, marking the beginning of preparatory works for its extensive redevelopment, which is set to commence in early 2024. It is the only city centre park in Cork city.
"The regeneration of the Grand Parade Quarter is one of the most transformative and ambitious public realm programmes ever undertaken in the city," said a spokesperson for the City Council.
The closure will pave the way for essential works, including the installation of park hoarding, relocation of park furniture to storage, removal, and storage of sculptures, plaques, and signage, and advance investigative works.
Anticipated features of the revamped park include enhanced access to the historic city wall, a new events pavilion and plaza, improved accessibility and seating, and the addition of a new tower marking the eastern entrance. Completion of the redevelopment is expected in early 2025.
The Grand Parade Quarter project promises a renewal of the southern gateway to the medieval city. By connecting the Grand Parade with historic lanes, streets, and Bishop Lucey Park to the south channel of the River Lee and the city centre business core, the initiative aims to enhance the city's public spaces.
The redevelopment of Bishop Lucey Park plays a central part of Cork City Council’s City Centre Strategy, whose population is expected to grow to 300,000 in the next 20 years.
A competition for the redevelopment of the park was run by the Royal Institute of Architects in conjunction with Cork City Council in 2020.
Designers were asked to consider a number of objectives, including the design of a park with “something to offer all ages”, that “opens up” the park to the city, the park’s role as a central “soft space” in the city centre and the medieval nature of the site by “emphasising the existing town walls within the site”. The competition was won by Belfast-based Hall McKnight Architects.
Controversy arose in July of this year when Cork's city councillors approved the sale of a portion of the park to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Munster Freemasons, despite objections. The contentious decision involved the sale of 54m2, equivalent to 1% of the park area, for €1, plus €1,500 costs, to facilitate an extension to the Freemasons' historic Masonic Hall.
The extension required the removal of 15 semi-mature birch trees, planted in 1993, further reducing green space in the city. The move sparked public debate and raised concerns about moving public space into private hands and reducing the biodiversity of the area.