Newey Goodman Park off the Stratford Road in Hall Green

Previously this was just a recreation ground off the Stratford Road in Hall Green. But Birmingham City Council developed it into Newey Goodman Park by about 2012 after a new housing development was built around Newey Road and Goodman Close. Named after Newey Goodman Ltd which used to be on Robin Hood Lane. They made hairgrips and pins. The site was sold for housing in the 1980s.

Newey Goodman Park

A relatively new park in Birmingham, Newey Goodman Park only opened sometime after 2012 on what before was just the Newey Goodman Open Space. Located near the Stratford Road in Hall Green, the park has a play area and a basketball court. The park is quite small. Nearby is the housing estate around the following roads: Newey Road (which leads to the Robin Hood Lane), Goodman Close, Longfield Close, Oldhouse Farm Close, Bissell Close and Glover Close.

The park and the nearby roads were named after Newey Goodman Ltd which used to be on the site of the park and where the houses are now on Robin Hood Lane. The company was sold in the late 1970s and early 1980s. After that the site was sold for housing to be built.

 

2010

On a walk around Hall Green in the snow during December 2010 (on Christmas Day - a rare White Christmas), I saw this recreation ground or open space from the Stratford Road. I did not go in, nor did I know that it was named after Newey Goodman Ltd.

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There was nothing there at the time, so the snow just covered the entire field.

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So much fluffy white snow on the Newey Goodman Open Space. Not that I knew what it was called at the time.

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Some trees close to the Stratford Road. Even then you could see the houses around Newey Road and the cul-de-sac's around it.

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I would have continued on from here down Robin Hood Lane and up Highfield Road. Didn't think about this space again for years, although did used to pass it on the bus.

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2020

The rest of the photos were taken on lockdown walks. I first went in at the end of March 2020. I did consider going in before lockdown, but too many people going in there. This time though was hardly anyone in there.

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Welcome to Newey Goodman Park the sign seen from the Stratford Road.

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Bright sunshine and clouds over the play area.

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Due to the pandemic / lockdown, at the time the playground / play area was closed from the public.

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This play area had a green tree sign, instead of those elephant signs I've found in other Birmingham parks.

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Some of the play equipment out of use, seen over the fence. A seesaw, and some kind of tyre swing.

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It was all quite modern with the children's play equipment that they have here. Looking towards the Stratford Road.

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There was also a basketball court, but it didn't look sealed off. In April 2020, I later saw people in there exercising or something.

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Still daffodils to see at the end of March. The view towards the houses around Newey Goodman Park.

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The furthest path goes towards Goodman Close.

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Looking back into this small park.

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Trees at the far end of the park.

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I just walked down Newey Road and re-entered the park at Longfield Close. Daffodils near the closed play area.

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Bollards at the end of Newey Road. It looks like the road used to continue onto the Stratford Road, so that means cars can't go into the park from here.

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Popped in again in June 2020 to see what had changed. Dark clouds over the park, and the grass looked cut from the Stratford Road entrance.

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Was some long grass behind the cut grass, for social distancing.

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Walking up the grass cut in the park, while you can see the long grass to the left.

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There was daisies growing in the long grass.

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Close up look at the daisies.

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Continuing up the cut grass path.

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Another look at the basketball court. Seems like the grass had been cut for routes towards it.

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Getting near the top end of the park again.

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Longer grass in the middle with all the cut grass either side of it.

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One last look at the park before I left via Goodman Close and Newey Road. This time I exited onto Robin Hood Lane.

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A few more photos from early July 2020 taken from a walk up the Stratford Road. Saturday evening was the last time that I saw the National Express West Midlands Platinum bus on the 6 before they were replaced on that route the following day by brand new National Express West Midlands Electric buses. It was passing Newey Goodman Park.

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I also noticed that the play area is now open again. Mothers with their kids on the swings, having fun. Playgrounds and play areas have been allowed to reopen again.

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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