This park was given to people of York in 1921 by York’s celebrated chocolate maker, Joseph Rowntree as a memorial to members of the Company’s staff who served and fell in the Great War. The wrought iron gates, listed grade II, were donated by the Company in 1955 as a World War II memorial.

As well as formal gardens and a lake, the park contains play areas, a café, basketball and tennis courts, a skateboarding area and even an outdoor performance space. Major refurbishment took place in 2003 funded by the National Lottery and the City of York Council restoring it to its original glory. Rowntree Park was awarded a Green Flag Award in 2006 which indicates it is one of the best green spaces in the country.