Public consultation opens for new public park on Cork city's northside 

A public consultation has launched on the North West Regional Park, which is divided into five proposed ‘Anchor Zones’.

One zone is an adventure park which will incorporate a range of cycling and adventure experiences for all abilities including rope bridges, climbing elements, and canopy walkways as well as resting points, viewing areas, bike rental, food, and amenities.

The park will include nature-based structures for climbing, and a zipline carrying visitors above the treetops and offering sweeping views across the wetland valley.

This area of the site will be fragmented by the North West Regional Park, so a land bridge will connect the two sides of the park.

Another anchor zone is an urban farm to be located and accessed from Nash’s Boreen and a future road connection, and will include orchards, flower meadows, and open ecological habitats toward the park edges.

Biodiversity enhancement

The farm aims to support community growing, hands on education, biodiversity enhancement, and small scale artisan food production, while there will also be a visiting farm with small animals. It will be accessible by bus to ensure access for school groups.

The Nature Recreation and Trails West anchor area will feature open meadows, scrub mosaics, hedgerow corridors, woodland edges, and a network of immersive trails for walking, running, nature play, cross country use, and exploration.

The Historic Monk’s Trail, once linking Teampall na gCillíní near the River Bride with the medieval abbey near Gillabbey Rock, will be reinterpreted as a marked heritage path, while the historical Croppy Boy Way walking route will be preserved.

Along the southern boundary, there will be a fenced dog park and a pitch and putt course.

River Bride Wetland 

The River Bride Wetland makes up another zone, with plans to restore natural river processes and reconnect the river to its floodplain.

The wetland also holds strong cultural significance, and this will be highlighted through boardwalks, raised paths, and trails to allow visitors to move through and experience the landscape at close range, while minimising disturbance through bird hides and viewing platforms.

The two entrances, or ‘urban gateways’, at Kilmore Heights and Fairhill will be the main arrival points to the park, and are counted as one zone.

Kilmore Heights will feature walkways, plazas, event lawns, café terraces, as well as nature-based play, cycling and skate facilities as well as full-size sports fields, courts, and training areas alongside fitness routes, cycling circuits, and walking loops.

The Fairhill entrance will be “more compact and intimate in character” than the Kilmore Heights gateway, with parking, small-scale activity areas, social spaces, seating steps, and allotments.

The full draft masterplan is available on Cork City Council’s website at www.corkcity.ie, where communities are encouraged to make a submission to have their views heard.