Here’s what should happen to Piccadilly Gardens, according to Mancunians

We asked our readers what they would like to see done with Piccadilly Gardens now that the Christmas Markets have been taken down. 

There’s no denying this open space area situated in the heart of the city, which connects the many areas of Greater Manchester, is in dire need of a glow up.

As the gateway of the city, it’s hardly a welcoming place and not representative of what the city of Manchester has achieved and what it means to its people.

Piccadilly Gardens was once landscaped as a pretty sunken garden area with benches for visitors to sit and enjoy the surrounding flowers and open space.

After the 1996 IRA bombing, the city underwent an urban renewal programme and the gardens were made into a one-level concrete pavilion with fountains that spat out from the ground. 

The design of the new gardens was drawn up by the renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando. 

In 2002 it also gained a concrete slab nicknamed the ‘Berlin Wall’ which completed the design in time for the Commonwealth Games that year.

Sadly, over the years the area has gained a bad reputation for being a hotspot for crime and drug use and has become the part of town many try to avoid where possible.

Last year, after rainy weather and the Christmas Markets were taken down, the grassed sections of the gardens had completely turned to mud and Piccadilly Gardens became even more of an eyesore than it’s already criticised for.

Manchester City Council re-turfed the gardens and visitors to the city were seen basking in the sun over the summer.

The central site for the Christmas Markets was usually Albert Square, but as the Town Hall has been undergoing huge repairs and refurbishment, the main hub used for the stalls over the festive season has been in Piccadilly.

On the approach of the Christmas Markets 2023, protective decking and walkways were put in place in the hope that it would not happen again. 

But although the site didn’t turn into a complete mud bath this new year, it seems the gardens will need some TLC again to give it back some element of ‘garden’ – with a fresh layer of turf put down this week to start the process.

With what was once the focal point of the city looking like it needs some tlc, we asked Proper Manchester readers what they think should be done to improve Piccadilly Gardens.

Mags Hughes commented: “It looks a disgrace. Why can’t Manchester get to grips with this open space? It’s been a thorn in the side for way too long while the rest of the city makes amazing strides?”

Ann Kay suggested the area be transformed into ‘beautiful gardens with flowers and benches so you can sit and have a coffee or a sandwich at lunch times’.

She added: “The old gardens were lovely. Don’t know why they were ever changed.”

Kevin Yates said Piccadilly needs ‘trees, big trees. We need lungs in the city’. Mark Tracey vented: “New grass every year, fenced off for 3 months.”

Janette Harris remembers: “I worked in the city centre during the ’70s and early ’80s. It was a beautiful place to sit for lunch in the summers back then. It’s just awful now. So sad to see.”

Tracy Lyn has an idea – similar to that in Dubai – of what she would like to happen to Piccadilly Gardens, as she says: “A lovely grand fountain. With lights. A small performance area so musicians can perform and deckchairs in summer.

“The fountain can do a light show in time to music. It can be for all ages. What better way to showcase our technology and local musicians.”

Judy Valentine commented: “Gardens, flowers, lawns and benches. Needs lots of colourful flowers and to be regularly cleaned and maintained.”

And Barbara Jones added: “Lovely green grass. New benches to sit on. Beautiful flowers everywhere and a nice little section where you can buy drinks and food.”

It seems the people of Manchester would like to see some colour added to this grey and gloomy area with the addition of flowers, as well as some greenery – putting the ‘garden’ back into Piccadilly Gardens.