COMHAIRLE CATHRACH CHORCAI - CORK CITY COUNCIL CORK LOCAL TIDY DISTRICTS COMPETITION 2008

Amenity Areas

The development of a pleasant environment in the City is an ever present objective.

The Lough of Cork is the major amenity area in the south-west suburbs. It has been designated as a bird sanctuary, and is inhabited by numerous swans, and by various varieties of duck. At the eastern end of the City, the Marina Walk leads to Blackrock passing on the way the Atlantic Pond, a pleasant area comprising grassy banks and a decorative lake. In 1994/95 a major clean-up of the Atlantic Pond and its feeder streams was undertaken. Further landscaping continued during the year. In addition, flower-bulb-planting was carried out on the Marina which improved the visutal aspect of the area.

From this area a pedestrian way has been developed southwards to the estuary of the Douglas River and along the foreshore at Mahon. Amenity areas have been provided at different vantage points in the City Centre. The Peace Park on the South Mall is the oldest of these, and this has been upgraded. Other such areas are at Dun Mhuire and Daunt's Square on the Grand Parade and at Parnell Bridge on the South Mall. The most prestigious and widely used, however, is the recently developed Bishop Lucey Park on the Grand Parade. The old City Wall was located during construction and is featured prominently near the impressive arched entrance. A short walk past colourful flowerbeds and shrubberies leads to an elegant fountain near the South Main Street exit.

The many trees lining the thoroughfares give a mature aura to the city streets. Merchant's Quay, Penrose Quay, St. Patrick's Quay and Pope's Quay have been tastefully decorated. In recent years many of the intimate narrow streets leading off St. Patrick's Street (the main shopping street) have been pedestrianised and this has led to the revitalisation of business activity in the immediate environs as well as significantly improving the physical environment. The Streets currently pedestrianised are Winthrop Street, Princes Street, parts of Cook Street and Marlboro Street, French Church Street and Carey's Lane. Future plans envisage the pedestrianisation of parts of Oliver Plunkett Street and Marlboro Street (South). Hard landscaping and the provision of a fountain at Emmet Place have served to enhance the streetscape in the vicinity of the Art Gallery and Cork Opera House.

More recently the City Council has undertaken a significant Environmental Improvement Scheme in the vicinity of Shandon Church and the Cork Craft Centre (formerly Cork Buttermarket).

A short distance westward from the City Centre is Fitzgerald Park. An ornamental pond, with a fountain as centre-piece forms the central attraction, while there is a playground area at the western end of the Park. This playground was equipped with state-of-the-art play equipment and a safety surface in 1997 and since its provision has proved extremely popular with children. Also situated in the Park is the Cork Museum which is open to the public each day. Close to the Museum is a pavilion erected in 1902 for the Cork International Exhibition.

Further west at the outskirts of the City lie the Lee Fields, a traditional recreation area for the people of Cork. In recent years the River walkway has been improved and will ultimately be extended to link up with the Bishopstown area via Carrigrohane Wood. Care has been taken in the development of the Glen River Park to preserve the natural attractiveness of the area. Artificial lagoons created at the Glen are an interesting feature of the Park.

Shalom Park at Monerea Terrace was developed in 1989. The land for this amenity was kindly donated by Cork Gas Company, who also provided the lighting within the park. There are other sizable parks at Bishopstown, Clashduv, Tory Top Road, Beaumont, Boreenmanna Road, Ballinlough, Skehard Road and Colmcille Road while there are smaller parks at Grattan Street, Shandon Street and St. Ann's, Shandon, as well as at Spring Lane and Kennedy Park. The Parks Section which also operates the Golf Course, has a staff of 85 and an annual budget which currently stands at £2.5m.

Further information may be had by contacting Cork City Council, City Hall, Cork. Tel: - 4966222, Ext. 4323/4333.