The park is partially accessible to vehicles and is open 8am - 8pm Spring and Summer during daylight saving hours and 8am - 5pm in Autumn and Winter.

Today the park is being developed to enhance the extensive plantings of the original owner and includes sweeping lawns, a recycling fresh water stream from a garden pool, and perennial flower beds.

The first moves towards turning the area into a park came in 1954, when George Walsh, MP for Tauranga,described the area as a “perfectly placed, ready-made park of such beauty as I have rarely seen”. Later that year 17 ½ acres were purchased from the Douglas family for the people of Tauranga by the Department of Lands.The original purchase has been extended and now includes reserve areas along with the estuary foreshore to the industrial area on Fraser Street, including the valley below Esk Street in Merivale.

There are several areas of beautiful walkway around and through the park.