The older I get the less cool I seem to be able to exude to my friends' kids. This amuses me and…read moreconcerns me in equal measures. I've never really been that fond of kids, but as they get older they grow out of being kids and more into being young adults and then I realise I do have more of a common ground with these young folk and no idea how to reach it. One of my friends suggested I grabbed a couple of the stroppy teens, hauled their butts and their skateboards into the back of the car and took a drive out to Hyde Park Skate Park. It's summat to do for a nice afternoon, and it's not the usual museums I feel obliged to force down their throats, nor the consuming crap that their mothers scorn me for. This seemed like a happy compromise, under the one condition that they promised not to break any of their bones. Deal. Great place for them to roam free, with enough leash room for me to pick a green spot to crack open a book and peer over the edges whilst they practised their moves, and there seems to be a good solid group of people practising their skills and just generally showing off to people seated around the periphery. If the kidlets slash young adults are feeling sociable they'll mutter and mumble over at each other and trade some skills and secrets all trouble free, all in the name of improving their own techniques. There's a steady mix of skills knocking around, from the novices just finding their feet or wheels, to the more confident show boaters ready to perform all what they've got. Either way, if you've got a book to read, you won't get much read.

A Mecca for local kids and students alike, and apparently the coolest place to hang out if you're…read moretoo young to get served in the pub, the Hyde Park Skate Park is also quite good for skating too. It's concrete with metal coping, and has a decent collection of ramps, banks and ledges to keep even the most adventurous extreme sportsmen and women entertained. There's a fairly high concentration of BMXs, and the usual animosity between them and the skaters, but other than that it's a fairly accepting park that, thanks to its location in the heart of studentville, doesn't really pay much attention to new faces.

Platt Fields is the biggest and best park in the area. Its green hills stretch out, well, about a…read morefive-minute walk, behind Fallowfield. So Manchester is not the best for green spaces. Nonetheless, Platt Fields isn't bad. I couldn't recommend it for a long afternoon walk or a day-trip with the extended family, but for a kick around with a bunch of mates or walking a dog it'll do just fine (as long as your dog isn't a fussy one). Its got plenty of open green space for football, and during the summer its pretty busy so you can always find people to have a game with. It does have a little cage for 5-a-side games but its gets so muddy its practically unplayable and you're better off setting up your own goal posts with jumpers just like you did as school. If you didn't do this at school, its achieved by taking two jumpers and placing them on the ground, creating a space in between them that serves the function of a goal. You then kick the ball into this structure. Its also got a skate park, if that's your thing, but later on this tends to be frequented by hoodlums and WKD. The lake is absolutely the highlight, and contains plenty of floating birds to feed. It does have boats which apparently can be rented out, though I have yet to see this occur, possibly through lack of demand, as you would be able to cross the lake in well under a minute. The boats can be put to good use collecting balls that are inadvertently kicked into the lake, but the park wardens are an obstacle. It also has some swings, but they're rubbish.

Coming from a village where it cost you about 3 quid to see a rubbish fireworks display, I was…read morehappy to see the abundance of free bonfire night celebrations organised by Manchester Council. This bonfire night is not as big as those in Heaton Park and Wythenshawe Park, but unlike the village celebrations, it is always on bonfire night itself (remember remember the 5th of November, not the 9th or 10th!) and is always packed with students and families. It's a pretty standard affair - everyone crowds around the barriers forgetting that the fireworks are actually going to be high in the sky, then rushes over to crowd around the giant bonfire. There are of course the obligatory hot dog and donut stands with plenty of rides including the one which launches a pair of you high into the sky above the park (it's good fun, trust me). If you want some free bonfire night fun but don't have a car and don't fancy the crush on the metro to get out to Heaton Park, then PFP is the place to go.

I think this park has been really nicely done and what looks like a small patch of grass from…read moreStretford Road actually extends way back with a nice adventure playground for kids plus football pitch. Whoever was saying they couldn't understand the Treasure Island theme of the playground someone missed the giant climbing frame in the shape of a shipwreck... Obviously it's never going to be the most peaceful place to sit, owing to its roadside location, but the grass bordering Stretford Road slopes up to some trees which is ideal for sitting on a sunny day. A nice place to stop by for a little while.

Hulme Park is decent. It's a green space in the middle of Hulme, which alone makes it nicer than…read moreanything else in Hulme. According to the council, it is the first large scale new park to have been built in Manchester for over 50 years, and was built in 1999 at a cost of £3 million pounds. Sounds reasonable, however... The council also claim that the recreational facilities on offer include an adventure playground with a Treasure Island theme, a high quality football pitch, a basketball/netball court, a skateboard area, a "sunken sensory garden" and last but by no means least, a granite paved performance area "known as" Zion Square, and picnic tables. I'm afraid I find myself obligated to dispel the images conjured up by a few of these descriptions. I would describe them as perhaps more than a little over the top. A bit of embellishment on the council's part here to say the least! Why have they tried to make a small green park sound like a suitable venue for a family holiday? As for the adventure playground, there's a few swings and slides which are pretty nice for kids, but the Treasure Island theme remains a mystery to me. High quality football pitch, not really but there is a place to play football. The skate park exists, so no problems there. As for the "sunken sensory garden", come off it! All there is is normal grass! I don't even know what a 'paved performance area' is but I do know that this concrete slab is not the talk of the townspeople who affectionately refer to it as 'Zion square'. Sounds like a Shakespearean market. It's a decent place to take the dog for a poo, and its got a nice view of the Hilton hotel, why didn't the council just say that?

Right at the end of Hyde Road is one the best open spaces in East Manchester. There is lots to do…read morehere for all ages with bowls, a tennis court, a skate park and adventure playground for the kids.There is even pitch n putt golf and and two large boating lakes and a small marina. My kids love it here because its safe and always busy and in summer there are various events such as the occasional circus and funfair and sports days

Small but perfectly formed suburban mancunian park…read more It's got football fields, tennis courts, a playground, skate park, a dog park section, allotments to the side, path helpfully divided into cycles and pedestrians, bird sculptures made out of tree stumps, Sure start centre, even a river. Somehow there's still plenty of room to just chill on the grass too. I like it.

I only explored the full park by accident as I was killing time whilst waiting for a friend. I was…read morealready aware of the large football pitches and playing fields which are used by people going for a kickabout with friends and local amateur teams, but if you go further into the park there is also a small but pretty rose garden, some tennis courts and a bowling green. Chorlton Park is a great place to go for a walk or a jog, and is the largest public park in the area. It is well-maintained by the local council. It's not usually too busy, except during the annual Chorlton Park Festival. It's nothing special, but it doesn't have to be. We love it just the way it is.

I love Stanley Park. After spending a summer living in Blackpool in my University days i became…read morevery familiar with Stanley Park, which is a haven for dog walkers, young families and couples alike. There's a huge boating lake and many opportunities to feed the ducks! There's an excellent park for children as well as a skate park for the older kids. Fields as long as football pitches to let your dog have a good run around and there's some quieter woodland areas which make a popular running route.

Stanley Park is a great recreational area just next to Blackpool Zoo. As well as many play areas…read morethere is also football pitches, a lake with boat hire, crazy golf and a sit on train ride to keep your children amused. A recent addition is the high ropes attraction which is basically a giant climbing frame. A great day out and inexpensive if you pack a lunch.

Lovely and surprisingly large park south of Manchester - a great place for an early morning run…read more On Saturdays there is a park run held here. There is a nice pond home to plenty of ducks and those evil geese that chase you in spring.

A great open green space in South Manchester, where you can feed the ducks. Play tennis , cycle ,…read morerelax and walk around the grounds take part in Saturday's park run hosted by Chorlton Runners free to everyone. Platt fields is home to Manchester dress museum , you can have a coffee and a slice of home made cake in the cafe based in platt hall . Watch the men sail their model Boats on Sunday's-whilst enjoying an ice cream. Take your children to the play arras. Bbq on the hill . Platt is home to Bmf boot camp. The annual Mega Mela, summer fair. A Russian Circus in January. Host one of the largest bonfires in south Manchester. There is so much to do here . My self I like to walk the park run a lest three times a week where over the years I have enjoyed all the features of changing seasons. Not for getting my BMF. Children can also use the BMX track which is very popular along with basketball, tennis and football.