Why do we need your help?
Perry Park is an important green space in north Birmingham, serving communities in the Perry Barr and Great Barr area.
The athletics venue, Alexander Stadium, sits within the park. It was a host venue for the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
Prior to the games, Birmingham City Council made a number of promises to the community, including the pledge from the Leader of the Council that “there will be no impact on the footprint of the park” and that it would be returned for community use after the games, and enhanced as part of the games’ legacy.
And yet…
Six months after the Commonwealth Games concluded, the future of the park is at risk.
Fences remain, blocking access to almost all of the park area.
The ground conditions across many sections of the park are dangerous, with the soil having been churned up, lifting stones to the surface and leaving ruts and puddles where level playing fields had been.
Large areas of tarmac used as a “transport mall” during the games remain in place, though they were due to be removed months ago.
Similarly, drainage pits have not been filled and restored to parkland.
The children’s playground which was removed far ahead of the games has not been replaced - the closest play area for the community on the southern side of the park lies across a dangerous A-road, and there’s no alternative within walking distance in other directions.
And on top of all this, the Head of Sport for Birmingham City Council has announced that he aims to hold back the large open area which had previously served communities to the north-west of the park, and convert it into formal sports facilities including an outdoor beach volleyball pitch.
While the Council has identified funds for development of the stadium and park, there are no published plans nor committed timescales for repairing the appalling condition of the park, restoring it to public use, or even, it would appear, that core areas of the park will be restored to public use at all…
We need your help, now, to persuade Birmingham City Council to commit to repairing Perry Park urgently, and to ensuring that the whole park is returned for public use - fulfilling the Leader of the Council’s promise to the community.