Mayfield Park
Mayfield Park with Manchester city centre in the background
Map
TypeMunicipal park
LocationManchester city centre, England
Coordinates53°28′29″N 2°13′32″W / 53.4748°N 2.2255°W / 53.4748; -2.2255
Area6.5 acres (2.6 ha)
Created2022 (2022)
Public transit accessPiccadilly tram stop
Websitemayfieldpark.com

Mayfield Park is a public park in Manchester city centre, England, covering an area of 6.5 acres (2.6 ha). The city centre's first new public park in more than 100 years, it was officially opened on 22 September 2022 by Bev Craig, the Leader of Manchester City Council.[1][2]

Toponymy

The park takes its name from Manchester Mayfield, a former railway station and industrial site on the south side of Fairfield Street next to Manchester Piccadilly station.

History

The area had been mainly derelict since the 1980s, but is being redeveloped as part of a wider regeneration scheme that includes plans for 1,500 new homes, retail, leisure and office space.[3]

The park had been more than six years in the planning, design and delivery. In 2020, the Government pledged £23m of investment from its Getting Building Fund – one of the largest investments in any single project – to Mayfield Park. This investment, delivered through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), was part of the Government's strategy to support 'shovel ready' schemes that would help to drive economic recovery following the COVID-19 crisis.[4]

In January 2020, the remains of two large tiled pools of the former Mayfield Baths on a street now known as Baring Street were discovered by archaeologists from the University of Salford on the site of the park.[5]

The scheme was delivered by the Mayfield Partnership, a public-private venture comprising regeneration specialist U+I, Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and UK Government placemaking expert LCR.[6]

Features

The park is on the banks of the River Medlock, a section of which was revealed after more than 50 years when concrete culverts were removed during construction. Three of the original steel beams have been retained to create the base of a new bridge over the river, forming part of extensive walkways.[6]

There is a large children's playground with six slides and references to the industrial past of the site, as well as landscaped areas with thousands of plants and 142 trees spread across 58 species.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Pidd, Helen (22 September 2022). "Manchester opens first new park in 100 years, delighting kids and kingfishers". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  2. ^ McFarlane, Wolf (21 September 2022). "City Centre 'oasis' Mayfield Park is set to finally open on Thu 22 Sep". Manchester Wire. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  3. ^ Mistlin, Sasha (4 July 2021). "New Manchester park to use Victorian wells to water greenery". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Manchester's Mayfield Park to open this week". About Manchester. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  5. ^ Rhind-Tutt, Louise (8 January 2021). "Archaeologists uncover stunning remains of Mayfield Baths". ilovemanchester.com. I Love Manchester. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  6. ^ a b Robson, Steve (26 May 2021). "First glimpse of one of Manchester's founding rivers in more than 50 years in latest Mayfield scheme stage". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Exclusive first look at Mayfield Park: looking wonderful, making the city centre better". Confidentials Manchester. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Mayfield Park". Manchester City Council. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
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