Tramore Valley Park

BrianJD

Hi

Does anybody know if this is opened and worth a visit for a walk?

Thanks

opus

I'm part of the volunteer group who's getting the weekly parkrun going in Sept so it should definitely be open then but not sure about the moment. I'll send one of my contacts an email or you could always just email the Corpo's park depts - recreation@corkcity.ie

sixpack's little hat

Opus do you know if the gate from half moon lane will be open for the parkruns?

Would be nice to be able to run to/from them rather than having to arrive via the link road.

PS. Fair play for being part of the team behind it!

Léan

Would also love to know if this place is open yet, likewise, where will the pedestrian access be from? Great to have a new park so close to the city.

opus

sixpack's little hat wrote: »

Opus do you know if the gate from half moon lane will be open for the parkruns?

Would be nice to be able to run to/from them rather than having to arrive via the link road.

PS. Fair play for being part of the team behind it!

Certainly hope so, we're waiting for written confirmation having been told verbally it would be a few months back. Will be arriving by bike myself so don't really fancy the idea of cycling out the Link Road.

Léan wrote: »

Would also love to know if this place is open yet, likewise, where will the pedestrian access be from? Great to have a new park so close to the city.

Half Moon Lane as mentioned by sixpack's little hat, it's just off the South Douglas Road after you cross the South Link bridge.

Just got confirmation that the pedestrian access will be available as detailed above. Handy for the bus as well as there's a bus stop fairly close to there as far as I remember.

Triangla

Hi, does anyone have an update on the opening hours for the park?

flo8s967qjh0nd

Is it open?
Communication on this has been woeful. This thing has been 'opening' for the last 3 or 4 years. Either it is or it isn't!

PS the parkrun looks like a great idea. Well done to those behind it!

Triangla

I checked facebook and I called the contact number which just rang out.

There might be an update soon?

opus

I emailed them as well but got no reply. We've a meeting with a representative from the Parks section in the park next Monday about the upcoming parkrun (starting 26th) so I'll definitely know more after that.

Rhys Essien

Triangla wrote: »

I checked facebook and I called the contact number which just rang out.

There might be an update soon?

Send them a tweet.

https://twitter.com/TramoreValPark

opus

It looks like the park won't be 'officially' open 'til next Jan (at the earliest) as there are still some works to be done onsite.

However if you want to see it before then you'll just have to come along to one of the Sat morning parkruns starting on the 26th

namloc1980

opus wrote: »

It looks like the park won't be 'officially' open 'til next Jan (at the earliest) as there are still some works to be done onsite.

However if you want to see it before then you'll just have to come along to one of the Sat morning parkruns starting on the 26th

What a farce. Can anything be done right in this city? Between this, stalled Marina Park redevelopment and the saga of the events centre the handling of big public projects in Cork is just comical.

Léan

Sorry to bump this thread but does anyone know if the park is open to the public yet?

Their Facebook/Twitter seems dead. Can't find any information anywhere.

Pitcairn

Outside of official events No.

The were having a weekly 5k run but that has been cancelled because too many people were turning up and causing traffic problems.

The Cork BMX club have events there on the track.

I don't think you can rock up and then go for a walk.

Triangla

A colleague went there for a run at lunchtime yesterday and it was closed.

What kind of weird park is this?

opus

Triangla wrote: »

A colleague went there for a run at lunchtime yesterday and it was closed.

What kind of weird park is this?

A park that hasn't been opened yet I assume your colleague went to the pedestrian entrance off the South Douglas road? You can always get via the entrance off the South Link during the opening hours for the recycling centre.

Lekrub

So wtf is the story with this park? Closed today by the link entrance into the dump. No access on half moon lane eithier. But then there was a few joggers in there. Are they jumping a fence or something?

namloc1980

Lekrub wrote: »

So wtf is the story with this park? Closed today by the link entrance into the dump. No access on half moon lane eithier. But then there was a few joggers in there. Are they jumping a fence or something?

Have heard there isn't enough funding available to open it fully at the moment. It's a compete embarrassment at this stage.

Lekrub

Haha what. How much funding does it need just to open it for running? Once the government is formed people should get onto local tds about it.


Found an article from last year saying it couldnt handle the turn out of cars for a sunday run and that seemed to be the end of it. €40m+ already spent on it too.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/council-vows-to-address-tramore-valley-park-access-problems-359617.html

Well that ends that anyway.

opus

See this update about the parkrun that was on there, not going to be open anytime soon.

Probably the last update for a while. Cork City council are only able to consider restarting the event once the park is officially open to the public with an operator onsite to manage events. Due to budget constraints this will most likely not be until early next year.
If anything change in the meantime needless to say we'll put an update here.
Thanks to all the volunteers & participants who've been involved up 'til now.

namloc1980

opus wrote: »

See this update about the parkrun that was on there, not going to be open anytime soon.

As I said earlier a complete embarrassment. Another year before the park opens at least.

D'Agger

Yeah that's a complete joke tbh

opus

I was out there last evening for an orienteering event, had a chat with one of the people working there & they were saying the pedestrian gate off Half Moon Lane is open during the day so if anyone local wanted to nip in for a walk/jog/whatever seems there's no problem.

As well the non-tarred part of the path around the perimeter has now been covered with grit so once it beds down will make it nice as not potholes/puddles etc.

No info on any official opening as yet mind you.

FrSmooth

Does anyone know if the cycle/walk way between South Douglas Road and the park is open? I'm thinking of moving to the Douglas area and having that cycle way would shorten my commute significantly!

Pitcairn

FrSmooth wrote: »

Does anyone know if the cycle/walk way between South Douglas Road and the park is open? I'm thinking of moving to the Douglas area and having that cycle way would shorten my commute significantly!

I don't know for sure but I believe you can cycle through there 'unofficially'.

opus

FrSmooth wrote: »

Does anyone know if the cycle/walk way between South Douglas Road and the park is open? I'm thinking of moving to the Douglas area and having that cycle way would shorten my commute significantly!

Do you mean this one, if so afraid not the gate is locked at the other end of it, a friend of mine checked it out.

opus

Rather than opening the park that's sitting idle, looks like the council are planning to start developing a new one

Work begins on Cork's new Marina Park

It does look to have a good balloon launching machine though!

seefin

opus wrote:

Rather than opening the park that's sitting idle, looks like the council are planning to start developing a new one

I despair of this country!!!

mire

Not sure what the problem is with the City Council announcing plans for Marina Park...it'll be a great project. Regardless of what happens with Tramore Valley.

See Cork County Council's design for southern access from Grange to the park via new n40 bridge.

http://www.corkcoco.ie/sites/cork-cms/files/2017-05/Preliminary%20Design%20Report.pdf

seefin

mire wrote:

See Cork County Council's design for southern access from Grange to the park via new n40 bridge.

Ah is tramore park under the county council? City seem alot more proactive so would explain alot

opus

seefin wrote: »

Ah is tramore park under the county council? City seem alot more proactive so would explain alot

Tramore Valley is Cork City council.

http://www.corkcity.ie/services/environmentrecreation/tramorevalleyparkmasterplan/

One of the councillors (Kieran McCarthy) says it far more eloquently that I can:

There are also lessons to be learned from other parks in the city. Despite the circa e30m investment into the nearby 180-acre Tramore Valley park it remains closed due to staffing shortages and funding challenges in the Council. I don’t want to see a brand new Marina Park and then no funding available to staff it, maintain it or open it”.

opus

Fyi some of the local residents have started a campaign to try and get the park opened - https://www.facebook.com/OpenTramoreValleyPark

opus

As always the opening of the park is around a year away

Health and safety sees €40m park underused

“A number of further capital works need to be carried out, and funding identified for an operational budget prior to any opening. However, it is envisaged that the Park will be open by mid 2018.”

Roger Hassenforder

Disappointing
Be a great amenity

Blitzkrieger

Pitcairn wrote: »

The were having a weekly 5k run but that has been cancelled because too many people were turning up and causing traffic problems.

There's obviously funding constraints, but it seems laughable that they would cancel the event for being too popular. Fota Resort started charging people for parking (€3) when they have running events to encourage people to car pool. It probably wouldn't be too popular at an otherwise free parkrun, but might contribute towards funding for the park too.

opus wrote: »

Rather than opening the park that's sitting idle, looks like the council are planning to start developing a new one

We were always promised a new park there so I'm delighted it's going ahead. It does seem a bit ridiculous that we can't get funding for the existing park(s) though. I'm glad resident groups are trying to make it a priority.

run_Forrest_run

Blitzkrieger wrote: »

Fota Resort started charging people for parking (€3) when they have running events to encourage people to car pool.

Fota charge €3 parking all the time, nothing to do with car pooling or races.

Blitzkrieger

They used to let you park up by the golf club for free. Now they make you use the car park.

opus

Mid-2018 has already become Autumn 2018

https://twitter.com/cllrkmac/status/907301673479131136

Roger Hassenforder

opus wrote: »

Mid-2018 has already become Autumn 2018

https://twitter.com/cllrkmac/status/907301673479131136

subject to finance being available!

meanwhile over in Ballincollig:
https://twitter.com/CafeChico1/status/908340111057850369

Roger Hassenforder

Might be some movement; they're proposing 70000 in the 2018 budget for it...

http://www.eveningecho.ie/corknews/Funding-proposal-to-open-Tramore-Valley-Park-in-2018-29b6f9c6-4f20-4289-a3e5-48c02497fcd8-ds

Fingers crossed

opus

Sounds promising for the park opening next year

https://twitter.com/cllrkmac/status/928693564858564609

opus

Could it really be happening this year

https://twitter.com/cllrkmac/status/955514586240897026

JupiterKid

Will this bloody park ever be open? It’s an utter farce at this stage...

One big downside to Cork is that the city doesn’t have a big decent city park like the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Come to think of it, I don’t think ANY of the regional cities have a decent big park.

Lekrub

April 1st is a while off yete

ChewyLuey

Based on Google maps it looks about 2.5 times (conservatively) or more the size of the Nemo Rangers complex. It would be a fantastic addition to the city.

run_Forrest_run

JupiterKid wrote: »

Will this bloody park ever be open? It’s an utter farce at this stage...

Come to think of it, I don’t think ANY of the regional cities have a decent big park.

Kilkenny [City] has a very large park slam bang in the centre.

JupiterKid

run_Forrest_run wrote: »

Kilkenny [City] has a very large park slam bang in the centre.

Kilkenny is not a city in any functional sense. It’s a pretty historical ye olde Medieval touristy Town with a historical city charter that was abolished in 1898.

A city it is not...

.red.

JupiterKid wrote: »

One big downside to Cork is that the city doesn’t have a big decent city park like the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Come to think of it, I don’t think ANY of the regional cities have a decent big park.

It's a pity we don't have a fantastic green space near the city, something like Fitzgerald Park would be ideal!

opus

JupiterKid wrote: »

Will this bloody park ever be open? It’s an utter farce at this stage...

One big downside to Cork is that the city doesn’t have a big decent city park like the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Come to think of it, I don’t think ANY of the regional cities have a decent big park.

I feel your pain Dug out the details of the first time I was ever there which was for a 5k race, it was back in Nov '11 and the park was just about to open then!

run_Forrest_run

JupiterKid wrote: »

Kilkenny is not a city in any functional sense. It’s a pretty historical ye olde Medieval touristy Town with a historical city charter that was abolished in 1898.

A city it is not...

Knew this would happen...
Lets not get into debating what constitutes a city in Ireland, where really Cork could be argued that it's a large town compared to proper cities of the world.

My point being that Kilkenny has a massive park in the centre of things.

run_Forrest_run

.red. wrote: »

It's a pity we don't have a fantastic green space near the city, something like Fitzgerald Park would be ideal!

you think Fitzgerald Park is not near the city? seriously? Sure perhaps Dubs living in places like Marino and Ringsend are saying the same thing about Cork's Fitzgerald Park