The grant funding, approved in August 2024 for Birmingham City Council, has supported community cricket and outdoor recreation sites in Small Heath Park and Sparkhill Park.
The games area at Small Heath Park opened on Friday (23/10) was refenced, resurfaced the existing court and footpath to enhance the playing surface for community sports.
To promote participation in cricket, the court was painted in colours associated with Dynamos Cricket, the ECB’s children’s programme, and inspired by The Hundred competition’s success.
Existing basketball hoops were included in the new design to ensure this area remains a multi-purpose space for various sports and activities.
Cllr Deborah Harries, Cabinet Member for Culture, attended its official opening, marking the council’s continued commitment to improving local sports facilities, to encourage residents to adopt active lifestyles across the city.
Cllr Harries was joined by local councillors Shaukat Ali Khan, Mohammed Saeed (Small Heath) and Adnan Hussain (Bordesley Green), plus representatives from Warwickshire County Cricket Club and The Olive School.
These improvements follow the installation of cricket practice facilities, including four practice lanes, at Sparkhill Park, which opened to residents and local cricket clubs last year – and are already proving to be popular with the local community.
