Short Heath Park

Park

Explorer Tom

Short Heath Park is Erdington's useful patch of breathing room, the sort of place where a child spots the playground before an adult has finished saying 'just a short walk'. Its Court Lane entrance leads into open ground with space to run, pause or attempt the outdoor exercise kit. Modest pleasures can be remarkably persuasive. Birmingham City Council now lists the site as Short Heath Recreation Ground and names a children's playground, outdoor gym and parking. The older local name, Short Heath Park, has lived on among neighbours. Residents' memories describe football matches here in the 1940s and 1950s, with a pavilion, putting green and a stone drinking fountain. Those recollections belong to the park's past; don't turn up demanding a round of golf or a drink from a vanished tap. Walk in from Court Lane and give the open grass a proper look. It is a place for the everyday business of a neighbourhood: children trying one more climb, someone practising on the exercise equipment, and a walker taking the longer way home. Local photographs and accounts also tie the park to Goosemoor Lane and the old Court Lane allotments. The surrounding streets make it a handy stop rather than an expedition needing a packed lunch and compass. The council's address is Court Lane, Erdington, Birmingham B23 5PT. The recreation ground is a public open space, with on-site parking listed by the council. There is no current promise of toilets, staffed facilities or events, so plan those separately. Use the proper entrances and keep dogs under control around play areas. If you are nearby, let the place do its simple job well.