Bleak Hill Park

Public park

Location in West Midlands

A map of Erdington, with Bleak Hill Park shown

Bleak Hill Park is located approximately 0.5 miles (0.8 km) west of Erdington railway station

TypePublic parkLocationErdington, Birmingham, UKCoordinates52°31′44″N 1°51′11″W / 52.5290°N 1.8531°W / 52.5290; -1.8531Area31.5 acres (0.127 km²)Operated byBirmingham City Council

Bleak Hill Park (formerly known as Short Heath Recreational Ground) is a public park in Erdington, Birmingham, UK. It is identified by Birmingham City Council as a "green corridor".^[1]

History

The park is named after the topographical name of the nearby area; referring to either "bleak hills" or "black hills". Like the origin of Blakesley Hall in Yardley,^[2] three Old English words could provide the root of the word "Bleak" – one meaning "black", one meaning "to shine", and one meaning "shining, pale, or bleak".^[3]

The area was first recorded as Blakhilles in 1461.^[2]

Renovation

In 2008, the park underwent a £100,000 transformation to remove graffiti and litter and to install sports pitches.^[4]

References

^ "Erdington Ward Open Space Plan". Leisure and Tourism. Birmingham City Council. 12 May 2005. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
^ ^a ^b Dargue, William (13 September 2008). "Bleak Hill/s". A History of Birmingham Places and Placenames. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
^ Dargue, William (13 September 2008). "Blakesley Hall". A History of Birmingham Places and Placenames. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
^ Young, Graham (29 February 2008). "In the Bleak Midwinter, Motorbike Made Moan". Birmingham Mail. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 26 February 2010.