Manchester‘s first new park in the heart of the city centre for more than 100 years is officially set to open to the public this week.
It’s been a long journey to get here, but Mayfield Park is finally becoming a reality.
Over the last 18 months, the vast and mostly-derelict former industrial site next to Piccadilly Station has been transformed into what project developers are calling a “stunning, accessible, and varied” green space for everyone who visits the city centre to enjoy.
Mayfield Park has been more than six years in the planning, design, and delivery, and once it officially opens this week, local residents, visitors, and communities across the region will have access to a green oasis and beautifully-landscaped river walkways.
The realisation of the ambitious project comes after the UK government pledged £23 million of investment from its Getting Building Fund to Mayfield Park – which is one of the largest investments in any single project.
Delivered through Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), developers say this investment is part of the government’s strategy to support “shovel ready schemes” that will help to drive economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manchester’s first new city centre park for more than 100 years is officially opening this week / Credit: Studio Egret West
Mayfield Park’s main entrance on Baring Street will officially be opened to the public at 12:30pm this Thursday 22 September by Leader of Manchester City Council, Bev Craig.
From then on, it will be open from dawn until dusk, seven days a week.
“September 22 is a momentous day for Mayfield, and Manchester,” said Martyn Evans – the Creative Director at U+I, which is the regeneration company leading the Mayfield development on behalf of the Mayfield Partnership.
“The greatest cities in the world offer a true blend of amazing culture, great architecture and green space.
“Manchester is one such city and Mayfield Park adds a significant piece of new, family-friendly, inclusive green space to the city centre.”
It's the date you've all been waiting for: 22.09.2022 🌱
Ahead of the ribbon-cutting grand opening ceremony this Thursday, Cllr Bev Craig – Leader of Manchester City Council – commented: “There are some projects that feel so momentous in the development story of our city that we look forward to them with great anticipation [and] Mayfield Park is one of those developments.
“A project that has true transformational potential for this part of our city.
“It’s with excitement then that we can look ahead to the official opening of the city centre’s first public park in 100 years later this week.
“We know the massive health and well-being benefits that green spaces can have for our residents and increasing access to parks for our residents is a key priority for us.”
Mayfield Park is gearing up to be a “stunning, accessible, and varied” green space for all / Credit: Martin Moss (via Natural England)
Cllr Craig also added that Mayfield also represents “a significant economic boost for Manchester”.
She continued: “The partnership has shopped local when procuring contractors to make sure that employment opportunities have benefited local companies and local people first.
“During the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, it’s this type of development that provides the jobs that our residents need.
“And it makes sure Manchester people continue to share in the success of our city.”
Featured Image – Studio Egret West
News
Oasis 25: Heaton Park send off Oasis like only Manchester could – with biblical rain
Clementine Hall
Oasis are well and truly back as they perform for what might be the very last time in Manchester.
There are countless moments every night that show how uniting this moment has been. The guy in the wheelchair being lifted overhead by a group of strangers for a better view. The couple getting engaged before being enveloped in a sea of bucket hats. The thousands of people gathering on ‘Gallagher Hill’ every night just to be near to this moment in history.
Then the celeb-spotting too: Jack Grealish, Shaun Ryder and Andy Whyment off Corrie in the same frame of a video; Orlando Bloom waving at fans. Liam and Noel’s kids all together on a big cousins’ night out.
For a lot of Mancs, the Oasis reunion has felt like Christmas morning ever since it was announced last year.
And it certainly felt like that as we braved the soggy ground of Heaton Park for their fifth and final live show in Manchester.
The atmosphere in the crowd was almost surreal, a mass of Britpop-loving super fans who have been waiting for this exact moment for almost twenty years – and you could tell.
As the brothers strutted on stage, hand in hand, a feeling of euphoric joy surged from the crowd of 80,000.
For two hours, they deliver anthem after anthem, each song transcending generations as the older lot look back to their Live Forever days and the youth can’t quite wrap their head around the band in front of them being here and now.
Oasis are just as good as ever; Liam’s gritty vocals and Noel’s ripping guitar slot together perfectly as though they were made for one another.
Image: The Manc
They’re loud and they’re unapologetic, they are the sound of the people, and we were absolutely lapping it up.
Every song was a hit, from bangers like ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’ to fan favourite ‘Live Forever’, and of course ‘Wonderwall’, the brothers gave the people exactly what they wanted.
Liam, maracas in hand and parka zipped to the top, not only might be the coolest man to walk the planet, but was undoubtedly born to be a frontman of a band. The head nods, the frowning eyebrows, the fists clenched behind his back – we were fully gripped by his sheer stage presence.
Images: The Manc
There was a moment where he put the tambourine in his mouth, closed his eyes and lifted his head to the sky, taking it all in and getting lost in the music – an icon.
And of course, in true Manc fashion, the heavens opened an hour into their set as the grey cloud everyone had an eye on took centre stage.
Did we care? No, we did not. It only made the moment that more special as we united as one unit, singing as loud as we could to combat the elements.
It’s clear to see how much Oasis means to so many; their music is embedded into the national psyche with a presence that simply defines generations.
Who knows when they’ll be performing back in Manchester again, and if this was their last time, then they can rest assured that by returning, they’ve made themselves the biggest band in the world again. And that’s an accolade they truly deserve.
Featured Images — The Manc Group
News
Police thank Manchester public as Oasis homecoming gigs pass with ‘no major issues’
Emily Sergeant
The Greater Manchester public is being thanked for their part in making sure Oasis’ homecoming gigs passed by ‘safely and successfully’.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that at least 44 arrests were made during the duration of the Oasis’ five nostalgia-drenched dates at Heaton Park, which saw more than 300,000 fans flock to witness the Manchester band’s massive return to our city. – with the overall event passing by with ‘no major issues’.
Just five arrests were made last night (Sunday 20 July) on Oasis‘ final stop off in the city, before the Gallaghers head on down to London and take to the Wembley Stadium stage.
GMP said officers ‘took action where needed’ to arrest four men and a woman on suspicion of a range of offences – including the racially-aggravated assault of a steward.
The police have thanked the Manchester public after Oasis’ homecoming gigs pass by with ‘no major issues’ / Credit: GMP
Over the duration of the five concerts, a total of 10 unauthorised drones were seized after restrictions were put in place, including one which was spotted at the Sunday gig.
There was also an isolated incident at ‘Gallagher Hill’, where some disruption occurred – including bottles being thrown – but police say this was ‘quickly resolved’ and did not escalate into anything major.
“These concerts have been months in the making for us and our partners to ensure that hundreds of thousands of fans who have come to Manchester can safely enjoy these iconic homecoming shows,” commented Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle, who was the Lead Police Commander for the Oasis event.
The final shows of Oasis’ iconic homecoming in Manchester have passed safely and successfully with no major issues and just five arrests on Sunday (20 July) night. Officers have engaged with concert goers, and minimised disruption for local community.https://t.co/iXkUjuXW8Kpic.twitter.com/V2TdhcIBRH
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) July 20, 2025
“We’ve now seen all five Oasis events pass without any major issues and I’m pleased that the overwhelming majority of people attending have enjoyed themselves and behaved sensibly and responsibly.
“I want to thank all security staff and partners who have done a fine job in making this a memorable experience for all.
“This has been a huge event, with 300,000 fans coming to Heaton Park and many others visiting Manchester to experience the atmosphere.
“So I’d [also] like to thank the public for their cooperation and patience as we maintained a safe and steady flow of people entering and leaving the event with minimal disruption over the last few weeks.”
Emily Sergeant -
20th September 2022 
