The records of the Borough of Swansea and The Cambrian newspaper detail the somewhat controversial use of public funds to take over and run "the destructive pit at Cwmdonkin, euphemistically called a reservoir".

[2][3][4] The first suggestion to landscape the grounds around the reservoir was raised in 1853,[5] but it was not until 1874 that Swansea Council purchased two fields from Mr James Walters for £4,650 to create the park, which was opened on 24 July 1874.

However, although their surfaces have been replaced by tarmac, the narrow winding paths at the west end of the park that were shown on an Ordnance Survey map in 1878 are largely unchanged.

[12] A portrait of a much younger Smallcoombe in high-ranking Salvation Army uniform, painted around 1900, is on display as part of the 'Love the Words' exhibition at Swansea's Dylan Thomas Centre.

[13] Both Smallcoombe and Cwmdonkin Park also feature in the radio broadcast Return Journey, written by Thomas after Swansea was partially destroyed by the Three Night Blitz in February 1941.

[14] A memorial stone, inscribed with lines from his poem 'Fern Hill', was placed in Cwmdonkin Park to mark the ten-year anniversary of his death on 9 November 1963.

[15][16] The stone originally came from Cwmrhydyceirw Quarry in the north of the city, where it was picked out by Dylan's friend Vernon Watkins and the sculptor Ronald Cour.