Eastside City Park
- Address
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Curzon Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B4 7AP
- How to get there and parking
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The inner city park, which is linear in design, runs from Park Street Gardens eastwards past the Masshouse high rise development to line the front of the Millennium Point complex which houses the Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum. Entrances to the park on Curzon Street and Cardigan Street.
The park (popular with students) terminates at the front of Birmingham City University’s “Parkside” campus building. Birmingham Moor Street station is an eight-minute walk away. Buses 4, 6, 45, 60, 74, 94, 95 and X8 pass near the park.
- About the park
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Eastside City Park officially opened in 2013. It is an exciting modern take on an urban green space.
The £11.75 million park offers, in the words of one of its architects Peter Taylor, “a moment of green in a journey through the city.”
The multi-award winning development features more than 300 trees, a 110 metre canal water feature and a public square with 21 jet fountains. As they progress through the park, which covers more than 14,000 square metres, visitors can soak up the myriad colours, draw inspiration from the sightlines and enjoy the plant aromas.
An initiative within the Eastside Regeneration Project, the park gives local people easier access to the city centre and employment. London-based design architectural practice Patel Taylor (whose design won the international competition to fulfil the council's brief), working with French landscape architect Allain Provost, has transformed a brownfield site into a variety of recreational spaces both formal and informal. Ideal for people who want to linger a while – maybe waiting for a train, taking a quick snack – among the cut stone walkways, decorative fencing and avenue planting.
The park is located next to Millenium Point, which is home to the Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum.
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- Video introduction
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- Facilities at the park
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The Thinktank Science Garden, an outdoor discovery space funded by and in association with Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum featuring an eight metre-high clanging “Terminus” machine and a giant hamster wheel.
- Children’s play area within the science garden
- Bench seating
- Picnic areas
- Cycle racks
- Café/kiosk serves refreshments
- Awards and status
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Numerous awards include:
- Civic Trust Award
- British Construction Industry Regeneration Award 2013
- Royal Institute of British Architects National Award Winner and “West Midlands Building of the Year”
- West Midlands Institution of Civil Engineers – Sustainability Award and Chairman’s Award
- Entente Florale Europe – Outstanding Public Green Space Winner
- Toilets
- There are no toilets on site. Toilets are available at nearby Millenium Point.
- Points of interest
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- Formal lawns and public squares accentuated by Corten steel
- Specimen tree planting including the Himalayan birch with paper-like bark
- Other features
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The park sits within the “Big City Plan,” the 20-year City Centre Masterplan to support Birmingham’s continuing transformation into a world class city centre including new and improved public spaces.
- The canal water feature echoes the Digbeth Branch Canal a short distance from the park.
- Thermal cooling ensured by the use of grass, shrubs and water
- Materials were sourced locally and a waste neutral policy was adopted by engineers Arup
CCTV and round-the-clock lighting to ensure park safety
