A new campaign has been launched to have a 45km greenway installed in Co Cork, which would run through the county and city, taking a river route towards the sea.
While some of the route already exists for cyclists and walkers, a new Lee2Sea Greenway campaign has been started to lobby for a full greenway, which would begin in Cork county and go into the city before returning out to the county again.
If the facility was put in place it would be the first greenway in Ireland to take in a city along its route.
The 45km proposed route would follow the River Lee, starting from Inniscarra Dam to Ballincollig, through Cork City, then on to Mahon before winding around Cork Harbour to Carrigaline and ending at the sea near Crosshaven.
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The Lee2Sea Greenway committee has been formed to push for the plan to become a reality, with a new website and video (above) to mark its launch
Committee member Helen Guinan said the Lee2Sea greenway would be a “simply amazing” asset for Cork and the Munster region generally.
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“The video shows people how the greenway could enhance their lives in all sorts of ways, whether for leisure or for getting around,” she said.
“Recent times have shown how important public green spaces
and physical activity are for our physical and mental well-being. There
is a real hunger for this access, as seen in the success of the pedestrianised
Marina, and in the thousands of people enjoying Ballincollig Regional
Park.
“Much of the route already exists and we need to join the
dots, and also improve it to a world-class standard greenway.”
Former chairman of Cork’s transport and mobility forum, Stephan Koch, said because the route was in easy reach of hundreds of thousands of people it would be an ideal commuting facility as well as a tourism and leisure draw.
“Public transport has an important role, but many people
will find that walking and cycling are faster, more flexible, and more fun,” he
said.
“Unlike public transport, their carbon and air pollutant
emissions are essentially zero, and it will improve public health too.”
“The route has incredible potential for transport because
it puts schools, colleges, workplaces, healthcare facilities, and local
services within easy reach of two hundred thousand people.”
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