Refurbished games area opens in Small Heath Park with cricket funding

A newly refurbished games area has opened in Small Heath Park, giving local families, young people and cricket clubs a better place to play, thanks to funding from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The multi-use games area was officially opened last Friday, 23 October. The court and footpath have been resurfaced and the area refenced, to give a better playing surface for community sport.

Painted for cricket, open to all

To encourage more people to play cricket, the court has been painted in the colours of Dynamos Cricket, the England and Wales Cricket Board's programme for children, inspired by the success of The Hundred competition.

The existing basketball hoops have been kept in the new design, so the area remains a multi-purpose space for a range of sports and activities.

The grant, approved for Birmingham City Council in August 2024, has supported community cricket and outdoor recreation in both Small Heath Park and Sparkhill Park.

Building on Sparkhill

The new games area follows the installation of cricket practice facilities at Sparkhill Park, including four practice lanes, which opened to residents and local clubs last year. The council says they are already proving popular with the local community.

Councillor Deborah Harries, cabinet member for culture, attended the official opening, which the council says marks its continued commitment to improving local sports facilities and encouraging residents to lead active lifestyles.

She was joined by local councillors Shaukat Ali Khan and Mohammed Saeed, who represent Small Heath, and Adnan Hussain, of Bordesley Green, along with representatives from Warwickshire County Cricket Club and The Olive School.

A cricket-loving part of the city

Cricket is hugely popular in Small Heath, Sparkhill and the surrounding neighbourhoods, where generations of families have played in parks and on the street. Edgbaston, home of Warwickshire and one of the world's best-known Test grounds, is only a few miles away.

Yet good, safe places to play close to home can be hard to find. A refurbished, free-to-use court in a local park gives children somewhere to pick up a bat for the first time, and gives existing players somewhere to practise.

Dynamos Cricket is aimed at children aged eight to 11 and is designed to be fun and active, so a court painted in its colours is a clear invitation for younger children to give the game a go.

Get involved

The games area is open to the public in Small Heath Park. Anyone interested in joining a cricket club or a children's programme can find local clubs and Dynamos Cricket sessions through the England and Wales Cricket Board.