Thought I'd work through the earlier history of the burial ground from press reports. Here's a summary of what I found. It seems to have gone through a fairly controversial history, particularly concerning who controlled the funding for the ground and the purpose of the fund's use. And it all started out because a railway company wanted some of St Martin's land !
June 1848
£2000 received from London & NW Railway Co as compensation for the loss of part of St Martin's ground for a railway 'deviation' line. The money was to be placed in trust or similar for Birmingham inhabitants for the later purchase of a burial ground
July 1863
A notice was issued that the burial ground was closed except for burials in vaults or brick graves
November 1870
Park Street was showing neglect. Debate about who and how the Park Street fund was to be used. Restoration costs were estimated at £800
May 1871
Park Street had become neglected, especially the section near Freeman Street. Reports in the press of decaying gates and fences, brick walls with gaps in places. The section near St Bartholomew's had less tombstones.
January 1880
Under the Birmingham Closed Burial Grounds Act of 1878, Park Street and St Bartholomew's churchyard came into the hands of the Corporation. The grounds were converted into recreation grounds with nicely laid out gardens. St Bartholomew's had 12,000 sq yards and Park Street covered 14,400 sq yards
May 1959
Under the Birmingham Corporation Act of 1954 all remains of Park Street burials were to be removed
It seems from recent developments, however, that not all remains were removed in the 1950s.
Viv.