Birmingham, MI

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Barnum Park is located at Pierce and Frank and includes such features as a play structure, softball, soccer fields, a crushed stone walking path, garden sanctuary, tree-lined promenade. During the winter months an outdoor ice rink is installed.

Little Free Library at Barnum Park

Barney's back!
Little Kids of all ages have to go no farther than Barnum Park to enjoy Birmingham’s first “Little Free Library” housed inside a brightly painted owl figure perched in a tree on the southeast corner of Barnum Park from April through November. So what exactly is a Little Free Library? It’s a “take a book, leave a book” free book exchange. Anyone may take a book or bring a book to share. Enjoy!

Barnum Park History

The Community for Barnum Park, a volunteer group comprised of local residents, beginning in 2007 started fund raising efforts to capture donation dollars for additional improvements/enhancements at Barnum Park. To date, the donations to the City of Birmingham are an amazing amount of around $177,000.

Park Construction Phase 1 occurred during 2009 for a total cost of $832,000 paid by the 2001 Parks and Recreation bond. A variety of new trees have been installed in various locations throughout the park. Future improvements may include enhancing various natural areas which will include adding native grasses and perennials to establish native prairie gardens. Phase 2 design work and improvements were completed in 2014 and include four features. These features are the sanctuary, heart of the park, play area and overall landscape improvements. Funding for additional improvements will primarily be from donation dollars.

Barnum Park Outdoor Ice Rink

When weather conditions allow for a safe ice surface, residents are encouraged to grab their ice skates and head over to the Barnum Park Ice Rink, located off of Pierce near George.

City crews work hard to maintain the rink, however users are welcome to shovel any snow accumulation to clear an area for skating.

Hockey is permitted at the rink from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. daily. Signs will be posted indicating the condition of the ice. Learn more by viewing the outdoor ice rink rules.

For additional information on the hours of the outdoor ice rink call the Parks & Recreation Office at 248-530-1640.

Watch the video below to see the Department of Public Services workers fill and line the rink.

Invasive Species Control Prescribed Burn

The Birmingham Department of Public Services has conducted periodic prescribed ecological burns at Barnum Park in the native prairie no-mow areas.

The safe and carefully controlled ecological burn is completed by trained personnel with David Borneman LLC, a contractor with over 30 years of professional experience conducting prescribed, ecological burns. The Birmingham Fire Department have permits for this burn to be conducted.

“Why Burn?”

Historically, fire was a regular and frequent component of our landscape in the Midwest. The fires stimulated many plant species to grow more vigorously and discouraged others that did not adapt to the heat from the fire. Today, many non-native plant species have invaded our natural fire-adapted ecosystems, decreasing the diversity of native plants and animals. By bringing fire back to these sites we encourage the competitive advantage that native species have evolved with and restore the site to its former ecological health.

If you have specific questions about prescribed burning, please visit RestoringNatureWithFire.com or contact David Borneman LLC at Dave@Restoring-Nature.com or 734-845-0634.

Barnum Park & Ice Rink