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Big changes are coming to the way we relax and enjoy our cities. This September, Manchester and Salford will launch Cyan Lines: a bold new vision to connect and transform the parks, rivers, canals, and public spaces that make our home so unique.
Launching at Aviva Studios, the home of Factory International, on Wednesday 10 September, Cyan Lines will unveil a bold new vision for Manchester.
Cyan Lines
This pioneering initiative will weave together more than 100 miles of green corridors, traffic-free walking and cycling routes, and beautiful waterfront spaces, stitching the city’s natural and cultural landmarks into one seamless network.
Picture strolling from a bustling city square into a tranquil pocket park, following historic viaducts that lead to hidden canals, or cycling along leafy boulevards that open onto the glint of the River Irwell. Cyan Lines will link Manchester’s and Salford’s green and blue spaces: its parks, rivers, canals, and community hubs, bridging the gaps with new paths, crossings, and connections that tie the city centre to every borough of Greater Manchester.
This is an open invitation to explore, to reconnect with nature, and to rediscover the city from the ground up.
Councillor Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council
Cllr Bev Craig
Councillor Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, explained:
Councillor Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, said the city was “on a mission to make our city greener,” highlighting investments in new parks and green spaces such as Mayfield, Ancoats Green and the Castlefield Viaduct. She also spoke about ongoing work to “celebrate and open up our rivers and canals” and hinted at “exciting plans in the long term.”
But Craig stressed that this was just the beginning. “There’s more that we can do together,” she said, introducing Cyan Lines – a decade-long initiative to imagine and create 100 miles of connected parks, green spaces and waterfronts.
The project, she explained, is about more than making Manchester attractive. Cyan Lines will bring together private, public, charity and voluntary sectors to deliver wide-ranging benefits: improved health and wellbeing, increased urban biodiversity, a boost to tourism, expanded walking and cycling routes, and greater resilience to climate change.
“This is the start of a very exciting journey,” she concluded, urging residents, business owners, community groups and leaders to attend the launch and “join us on this very exciting journey to truly transform our city.”
“This will mprove health and wellbeing, increased urban biodiversity, boost to tourism, expand walking and cycling routes, and improve resilience to climate change”
The name Cyan Lines reflects the blend of green spaces and blue waterways. Over the next decade, the project will not only connect Manchester and Salford’s parks, canals, and rivers, but also inspire the creation of new ones. Where gaps exist, new bridges, paths, or green corridors will link the chain, forming a continuous network stretching into Greater Manchester’s boroughs.
Tom Bloxham MBE
Urban Splash founder Tom Bloxham MBE CBE, one of the project champions alongside Pete Swift, co-founder of Planit, said:
“We did not have hunting grounds for kings, dukes and lords in Manchester, so we have no grand central parks, but we do have excellent green, blue and brown spaces which, if joined up will provide an amazing legacy for future generations.
“So much work has been done over the past twenty years. We’ve got Mayfield, New Islington Marina Park, Castlefield viaduct, the Canal Basin, Symphony Park, Kampus, Ancoats Green and Aviva Studios and so much more is planned – the Science Museum courtyard, the former Central Retail Park, Victoria North, Renaissance Deansgate and Holt Town to name a few.
Mayfield Park, Manchester.
“Our Cyan Lines network will not just connect these amazing spaces but will create opportunities for more projects and for residents, community groups, businesses and charities to get involved.”
Manchester City Council is coordinating the programme while exploring the best structure to support it long-term, potentially as a charitable trust or community interest company. In the meantime, work is already underway mapping the first pilot projects, which will be revealed at the September launch alongside new partners and supporters.
The message from the organisers is clear: this is a movement for everyone. Whether you’re a keen cyclist, a Sunday stroller, a nature lover, or simply proud of your city, Cyan Lines is about making Manchester and Salford greener, healthier, and more connected than ever before.
The launch event takes place at 6 pm on Wednesday, 10 September at Aviva Studios.
Anyone interested in attending can register now and be part of this exciting new chapter for our cities.
You can find out more about Cyan Lines by clicking here
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