In 1909, the town council purchased 20 acres for a park named in honour of a member of the reclamation syndicate, the Hawke's Bay pioneering settler William Nelson.
As of December 2018, Central Districts has played 20 first-class matches there, lifting the Plunket Shield at the venue in 2017–18.
[2] A 2011-12 Ford Trophy match was held between the Central Districts Stags and the Wellington Firebirds, which finished in a no result.
[1] After the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, 500 tents were erected on Nelson Park to provide emergency accommodation for displaced residents.
[1] As well as cricket grounds, the park precinct also includes a pétanque club and tennis courts.