Mayfield Park, Manchester
| Mayfield Park | |
|---|---|
Mayfield Park with Manchester city centre in the background | |
Interactive map of Mayfield Park | |
| Type | Municipal park |
| Location | Manchester city centre, England |
| Coordinates | 53°28′29″N 2°13′32″W / 53.4748°N 2.2255°W |
| Area | 6.5 acres (2.6 ha) |
| Created | 2022 |
| Public transit access | Piccadilly tram stop |
| Website | mayfieldpark.com |
Mayfield Park is a park in Manchester city centre, England, covering an area of 6.5 acres (2.6 ha). The city centre's first new park in more than 100 years, it was officially opened on 22 September 2022.[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 £23 million 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 placemakers LCR.[6]
Smoking and vaping were banned in the park from 26 June 2023.[7][8] Barbecues and alcohol are also prohibited.[8]
As of September 2025, the park forms a central component of the CyanLines initiative, a strategic urban greening and connectivity programme aimed at establishing a 100-mile (160 km) network of linked parks, waterways, and pedestrian routes across Greater Manchester.[9]
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.[10][11]
References
- ^ Pidd, Helen (22 September 2022). "Manchester opens first new park in 100 years, delighting kids and kingfishers". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ McFarlane, Wolf (21 September 2022). "City Centre 'oasis' Mayfield Park is set to finally open on Thu 22 Sep". Manchester Wire. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ Mistlin, Sasha (4 July 2021). "New Manchester park to use Victorian wells to water greenery". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ "Manchester's Mayfield Park to open this week". About Manchester. 20 September 2022. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ Rhind-Tutt, Louise (8 January 2021). "Archaeologists uncover stunning remains of Mayfield Baths". I Love Manchester. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ Davies, Ethan (31 May 2023). "Manchester park announces major change for visitors starting next month". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ a b "A Place For All: Can I smoke in the park?". Manchester City Council. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "CyanLines a mega project to bring over 100 miles of nature to Manchester revealed". Greater Manchester Business Board. 11 September 2025. Archived from the original on 11 October 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Exclusive first look at Mayfield Park: looking wonderful, making the city centre better". Confidentials Manchester. 31 May 2022. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ "Mayfield Park". Manchester City Council. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.