Love it or loathe it, the big reveal came at an awkward time.

Cork’s newly reimagined Bishop Lucey Park was unveiled to the public in the depths of winter — timing that did little to soften the reaction from locals who felt the beloved green space had been replaced with something far more concrete-heavy than expected.

In the weeks that followed the reopening, social media lit up with debate as Corkonians weighed in on everything from the park’s minimalist design to the perceived lack of greenery.

For many, the concern centred on the fear that one of the city centre’s few pockets of nature had been stripped back too far. Early photographs of the newly completed space — taken in January’s grey light — showed bare planting beds, and expanses of fresh stone paving that, to some eyes, felt more “brutalist plaza” than leafy city park.

But according to Cork City Council, patience may be key.

As spring begins to creep into the city, the council has begun sharing updates and photos showing new planting starting to emerge across the site. Bulbs are beginning to push through the soil and the landscaped beds — which looked stark during the winter reopening — are starting to fill out with colour and texture.

“New Skimmia plants added to Bishop Lucey Park this morning.” they said in a socaal media post shared today.

The redevelopment of Bishop Lucey Park forms part of a wider effort to refresh the historic space and make it more usable throughout the year.

The park, originally opened in 1985 and named after former Cornelius Lucey, sits just off Grand Parade and has long served as a quiet refuge from the bustle of the city centre.

Its very name has been another bugbear for locals. Many believe it should be renamed in view of the Ryan Report, the McAleese Report and the most recent Report of The Scoping Enquiry into Sexual Abuse in schools run by Religious Orders.

While the online debate around the park’s design hasn’t entirely quietened down, the council seems hopeful that the arrival of warmer weather will help the space settle into itself.

Whether it wins over its critics or not, one thing is certain: with longer evenings on the way, Corkonians will soon have plenty of opportunities to judge the city’s most talked-about park for themselves.