Jump to content

Bleak Hill Park

Coordinates: 52°31′44″N 1°51′11″W / 52.5290°N 1.8531°W / 52.5290; -1.8531
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bleak Hill Park
Streetly Road entrance to the park
Bleak Hill Park is located in West Midlands county
Bleak Hill 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 park
LocationErdington, Birmingham, UK
Coordinates52°31′44″N 1°51′11″W / 52.5290°N 1.8531°W / 52.5290; -1.8531
Area31.5 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

References

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