Priestley Way Micropark
2022
Other than the existing mature tree, there was very little positive character to this forgotten corner along Priestley Way, which was often degraded by cars being parked on it. The intent was to create a complementary Micro Park to the one along Rutherford Way that encourages people to discover and use it.
‘Way more than a forgotten corner’, the idea was to retain the mature tree and to provide new seating, tables and complementary landscaping with artwork in the same style as that used at Rutherford Way and Gatwick Road Parade so that together these areas form a family of park areas with the “Heritage Poles” the unifying artwork.
The park area is on the corner of Priestley Way located off of Fleming Way. Zone 5 (Purple)
In common with Rutherford Way Corner and Gatwick Road Parade, the artwork is designed by Dallas‑Pierce‑Quintero, who created a modular “pixel” system inspired by the area’s past, using clusters of slender, powder‑coated poles rising from hexagonal corten‑steel bases.
The artwork celebrates the people of Manor Royal through a multi‑coloured gathering of physical elements inspired by the traditional form of woodland management known as ‘coppicing’.”
Artist: Dallas‑Pierce‑Quintero (DPQ).
Many of the road names of Manor Royal are taken from those of famous scientists. Joseph Priestley was an English chemist. He is credited with his independent discovery of oxygen by the thermal decomposition of mercuric oxide having isolated it in 1774.
During his lifetime (1733-1804), Priestley's considerable scientific reputation rested on his invention of carbonated water, his writings on electricity, and his discovery of several "airs" (gases).
