By its northern boundary is the South Leeds Stadium, home of rugby league club Hunslet.

[5] Since 1919 the park has been in the ownership of Wade's Charity who lease it to Leeds City Council for a peppercorn rent.

The area contains a large number of "shaft mounds" which are thought to mark sites of medieval coal mines.

Survey work was done in 2007–2008 to discover more about the mounds, which seem to represent various mining techniques, including bell pits, cog and rung and whim gins.

The archaeologist, Martin Roe led the team from the Friends of Middleton Park and the South Leeds Archaeology Group.

A program of events has been arranged in the park ranging from outdoor theatre and music to history walks, bird and wildlife watching and traditional crafts.