Ballincollig Regional Park, Cork

Ballincollig Regional Park was once home to a major gunpowder works that manufactured gunpowder from the 18th century to the start of the 20th century. Today, the park is owned, managed and maintained by Cork County Council and features various facilities for recreation and amenity purposes.

The park includes the former gunpowder mill, which contains 52 structures that survived from the gunpowder manufacturing process. The River Lee runs the northern length of the site, and a system of canals used during the manufacturing process connects all the process areas in a single flat system without locks. The canals are fed from the River Lee at the western end of the site.

Visitors to the park can enjoy a range of activities such as soccer and rugby pitches, woodland walks, a playground, multi-use games areas, and a skate park. Free-to-use outdoor fitness equipment is installed at the western end of the park, providing an opportunity for visitors to exercise in a natural setting. In addition, there are 80 allotment plots available for those who enjoy gardening.

The park also features four marked walking trails that take visitors through and around the Regional Park. These trails are color-coded according to length and are multi-access, allowing dogs on leads. The Military Trail starts at the Shopping Centre Square and continues to the Regional Park by a westerly route, while three other trails of varying lengths begin and end at the western end of the park at Inniscarra Bridge.

Thanks to a 2012 development plan by the Recreation & Amenity section of the local authority, planning was approved for the construction of multi-use games areas and a children's playground. This work started in December 2014 and is now completed, providing even more opportunities for visitors to enjoy the park.