Rutherford Way Micropark
2022
Similar to Priestley Way Corner, the Rutherford Way Corner Micro Park was conceived to transform a previously underused green space that suffered from poor-quality footpaths, illegal verge parking, and a lack of seating or visual interest into a vibrant, welcoming place for informal gatherings, rest, and reflection – “way more than a grass verge”.
The site now consists of bold planting, improved surfacing, and distinctive street furniture, including a feature dining bench, and public artwork by Dallas-Pierce-Quintero, which anchors the site and connects it thematically to nearby Micro Parks at Priestley Way and Gatwick Road.
Rutherford Way is located off of Fleming Way and to the rear of Gatwick Road Parade. The site for the Micro Park is on the corner / bend in the road between Rutherford Way and Priestley Way. Zone 5 (Purple)
Part of a trio of park areas, the proposed public artwork at Rutherford Way is complimented by similar interventions at Priestley Way and Gatwick Road Micro Parks.
Once part of a wooded area, this site specific reference has inspired the tall slender elements of the artwork, which are representative of the traditional form of woodland management known as ‘coppicing’, further celebrating the Manor Royal’s local heritage.
Together, these three Micro Parks and their distinctive and coordinated character help provide a ‘place-specific’ trail of new Micro Park destinations within this part of Manor Royal.
Artist: Dallas‑Pierce‑Quintero (DPQ).
Manor Royal was once a collection of fields and woodland before plans were drawn up to make Crawley one of the country’s first New Towns. The New Town Masterplan, drawn up by New Town architect Anthony Minoprio in 1948, and area to the north was designated for business and industry with ambitions for it to be an “industrial area superior to any in the country.” This started the process of acquiring these fields and woodlands and building the commercial area that would become Manor Royal Business District. Some of the trees and woodland that still exist, and have inspired some of the artworks, date back to that pre-New Town era.
