The area belonged to the municipality of Aker until 1858, when it was incorporated into Christiania (Oslo). It was made into a park on Thorvald Meyer's orders in the 1860s. Having developed the neighborhood Grünerløkka, Meyer gave the park Birkelunden to the municipality in 1882. It received major renovations between 1916 and 1920 and 1984 and 1986. In 1920 it was the intention to create a children's playground as well as a small ice rink. A music pavilion was added in 1926, and a small pool added between 1927 and 1928. The park also has several monuments, including a monument to Norwegian volunteers in the Spanish Civil War. Other major parks in the area are Olaf Ryes plass, Sofienberg Park, and Tøyen Park.