It is a 12.87-hectare (31.8-acre) park[1] stretching approximately 0.75 miles (1.2 km) along the floor of the valley of the River Sheaf, sandwiched between Abbeydale Road South (A621) and the railway tracks of the Midland Main Line.

Before the park was created, the area had been used for farmland and small industrial sites, which had been built to take advantage of the power provided by the river.

[4] In the late eighteenth century land at Millhouses, known as the Grange Ville Estate, was purchased by Peter Wigfall.

In 1837 William Speck filed a court case claiming that the will of 1812 was a forgery, and that he, as the closest living relative of Peter Wigfall should inherit the land.

[8] Whitehead sold the property to William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 6th Earl Fitzwilliam, but in 1875 Oldale's son William reasserted the family's claim to the land and forcibly took possession of property in Millhouses, including farmland that was leased by the miller of the corn mill and the inn keeper at the Waggon and Horses Inn (the future site of Millhouses Park).

The park was also granted the Green Flag award for its excellent facilities, environmental sustainability and horticultural standards.

Facilities on offer include: The Millhouses Park Duck Race takes place each year, usually in conjunction with the Cliffhanger festival.