One man's crusade to make Kennedy Park in Cork city a worthy memorial to John F Kennedy.
Many people in Cork are unaware their city is home to Kennedy Park, named after the late President of the United States of America John F Kennedy who visited the area in June 1963.
Kennedy Park is situated in the Ballintemple suburb of Cork city. Local resident Christopher Scarfe Cody is extremely concerned about the park’s poor state of repair.
To date he has written to Lord Mayors of Cork Timothy O'Sullivan and Seán O'Leary. The latter ordered an investigation into the condition of the park. In response the Park Superintendent intimated that Christopher Scarfe Cody is unreasonably persistent in his complainants about the park.
In fact they were calling you a crank.
Christopher Scarfe Cody made the suggestion that a section of the park be developed into a children’s playground as the nearest playground in Fitzgerald Park is a thirty minute walk away. The same Park Superintendent let it be known there was no budget to make any improvements to this or any other park.
Unsatisfied with his response from the Lord Mayor, Christopher Scarfe Cody forwarded all of his correspondence to Senator Ted Kennedy in Washington DC. His stated in his cover letter that if Cork Corporation did not have the funds to maintain the park,
Perhaps there was some money in a Kennedy foundation that could come to the rescue.
Christopher Scarfe Cody felt compelled to take the matter further because
This is a disgrace; if it is supposed to be to the memory of President Kennedy then I should say that it's a travesty, disrespect to his memory.
Any communication or funds Christopher Scarfe Cody might receive from Senator Kennedy will be forwarded to the Lord Mayor of Cork.
This episode of 'Hall’s Pictorial Weekly’ was broadcast on 7 October 1972. The reporter is Dick Hogan.
