World-famous giant ape returns to Brum
King Kong is on his way back to Birmingham - 50 years after the world 's most famous giant ape first set foot in the city.
Kong, whose world-famous ancestor met a sad end at the summit of New York 's Empire State Building in one of Hollywood 's most famous blockbusters, is finally coming home this summer as part of celebrations to mark the Commonwealth Games.
Birmingham-based property developer Cordia Blackswan have worked closely alongside the sculptor of the original statue, Nicholas Monro, his son Joe and daughter Maude to bring a brand new Kong back to the city in a pop-up park, King Kong Park, at Great Hampton Row.
The return of the giant ape comes nearly 10 years after the original much-loved King Kong Statue - which once stood proudly in the centre of Birmingham in the shadow of the Rotunda close to the market- was discovered lying forgotten and unloved in a car park in Penrith.
Back in 2013 Birmingham 's very own John Bull, campaigner Ray Egan, undertook a 400-mile round trip to try to bring Kong back home. But Kong 's market trader owners Spook Erection refused to budge.
The 20 ft fibreglass statue, originally commissioned in the early 70s for the City of Birmingham sculpture project by the Peter Stuyvesant Foundation, had been owned by market trader group Spook Erection, whose founder, the late Nigel Maby, built up the firm to help run markets across the UK.
Now, nearly a decade later, A 7m tall King Kong sculpture, created by Gloucestershire-based RoboCarv, will form the centrepiece of the park. Aesthetically identical to the original sculpture, Cordia Blackswan is working closely with original artist Nicholas Monro and his family to bring a structurally sound King Kong back to life to return a piece of history to the city that will stand the test of time.
Commonwealth Games events will be livestreamed on a big screen, with seating and refreshments available from local suppliers with evening food and drinks also available. The park will also have a running track - ideal for organised sports and fitness classes for visitors to enjoy.
Located on Great Hampton Row in the Jewellery Quarter, the park will be easily accessible from the city centre with transport links. Just a two-minute walk from St. Paul 's tram station, a seven-minute walk from Snow Hill Station and 15 minutes from New Street Station, the park will host visitors from across the city and beyond.
With nine developments located along Great Hampton Street, Cordia Blackswan has a masterplan to transform the key gateway route into the city, which has suffered significant underinvestment in recent years. Their developments offer a mix of uses, including build-to-rent and Birmingham 's first shared living scheme.
Marcus Hawley, managing director at Cordia Blackswan, said: “Birmingham holds a very special place for us as a developer, and we are committed to supporting the city in realising its ambitions to be a world-class destination. The Commonwealth Games presents the perfect opportunity to bring King Kong home, with Birmingham on the global stage.
“For those of us that remember the original Kong, it 's time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his first visit to the city. While it 's an honour to bring a piece of Birmingham 's history back to life, we hope people will 'go ape ' over the park we 're creating, bringing the community spirit back to Great Hampton Row. ”
King Kong Park will open on 22 July, with entertainment running until 8 August from 12pm-11pm each day. The park is free to attend for all.
The festival-style park will bring together the local community, visitors, athletes, and tourists in a celebration of the city. Working together with local artists, one of Birmingham 's biggest independent food operators and event organisers, the park will host live music, sport events and street food and drink suppliers in the run up to and during the Games.