The park was initially known as the Middle Rouge Parkway, and it incorporates multiple structures donated by Henry Ford from his village industries project.

Baseball diamonds, soccer fields, picnic shelters, and hiking trails are located throughout the park, and restrooms are available at some recreation areas.

Henry Ford contributed to the creation of Hines Park, and in his childhood he was a frequent visitor to the mills along the Middle Rouge.

Ford was born in 1863, and he and his parents regularly traveled 20 miles (32 km) from Springwells Township to the Gunsolly Mill to have the wool from their sheep carded.

The road commission also served as the Board of County Park Trustees, and their inaugural project was the creation of a scenic parkway along the Middle Rouge River.

Land acquisition for the parkway began in the early 1920s, with the donation of a parcel in Northville Township, and continued through the Great Depression.

[7]: 208  The Ford Motor Company fulfilled the promise of donating the village industries to Wayne County, and the four former mills became part of the parkway that year.

[8]: 40  In the years following World War II, the parkway was extended downstream from Newburgh Lake to Warren Avenue, mostly completing its path along the course of the Middle Rouge.

[9]: 41 The nature center at Nankin Mills closed in 1979 due to budget cuts, and maintenance in the rest of the park was deferred.

[8]: 48  The International Joint Commission designated the entire watershed as a Great Lakes Area Of Concern in 1987, and cleanup efforts have continued since then.

Wayne County sold the Warren Valley Golf Course, located at the downstream end of the park, to the city of Dearborn Heights in 2018.

The sale to the city occurred after the county proposed to sell the site to a private developer to build housing, a plan that was criticized by the public.

Cruisin' Hines is one of many classic car events in Southeast Michigan in late summer, which also includes the Woodward Dream Cruise.

[18] The Heroes on Hines run is presented by Wayne County Parks annually in September, with its start and finish line at the First Responders Memorial.

[19] Hines Park is the site of the annual Wayne County Lightfest, a drive-through light show featuring giant animated holiday-themed displays.