Writes Ciaran Dineen
The long sought-after running track for the Carrigaline Community Park is set to officially open on the August Bank Holiday weekend according to Cork County Council.
Councillors were given an update at Monday’s meeting of the Carrigaline Municipal District Meeting in County Hall, with the news being greatly welcomed. Work has already commenced on the track but the initial scope of the project has been extended as the projected cost of delivery was overestimated.
This now means that the Council is able to construct an additional 100 metres in order to link the public footpath from Church Road into the park to meet with the track, while a separate 50 metres will be allocated towards creating a desire path from the car park to the very popular skatepark. Finally, funds available will be used to implement 6 additional benches and 4 picnic tables. These will be spread out for use between the Community Park and in Kilnagleary for the outdoor gym.
The running track was given the green light in September 2019 much to the delight of councillors and residents alike, given that it would provide a wonderful local amenity for anyone who wanted to get some exercise or to just enjoy the surroundings at a leisurely stroll.
Originally the Council had presented plans for the track to be laid along the Carrigaline-Crosshaven walkway following concerns that the material of the track would not be suitable for the Community Park. However, Councillors persisted with the strong belief that the park was the essential location for the running track and were open to a change of design if this was necessary.
Eventually a ‘hybrid’ surface was arrived at and this will cover a length of 220 linear metres around the park’s lagoon and will be 1.6 metres wide. Speaking prior to the meeting on the running track was Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey, who said, “As one of the county’s nine Metropolitan Towns, Carrigaline supports a large population, a strong community and a wide variety of businesses. Through the Council’s Project ACT, investment in public amenities like these improvements to the park, as well as a number of infrastructural projects planned for the area, will ensure Carrigaline is well placed for a bright future.”
Park Toilet Remains on the Agenda
With many expected to make full use of the running track, as many are currently doing so with the skatepark in light of recent good weather, the urgent message of the need for a public toilet in the park was reiterated at Monday’s meeting. As was reported by The Carrigdhoun Newspaper a few weeks ago, the Council are in the process of purchasing a new, modern facility that will be put into the community park as soon as possible. However, it remains to be seen whether this public toilet will meet the August opening date for the running track.
Furthermore, Councillor Liam O’Connor queried whether it was possible for the Council to temporarily move at least one of the litter bins, that now finds itself behind the construction fencing for the track, to a more central location so that it can be used by the public for rubbish disposal. His request was granted.