It is named after the General Georg Carl von Döbeln, and his monument was placed in the park in 1867.

This park should not be confused with "Döbelns plan" which is a smaller communal area elsewhere further west in the city.

[1] Preparations for the park started in 1865 and the plans were for an English-style garden on the south side of the Ume River.

The land was donated by the recently appointed Governor of Västerbotten Erik Viktor Almquist to create a common space for the town's residents.

In 1888 the Umeå city fire destroyed or damaged most of the park's shrubs and trees.