Named in honour of Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, The park's features include two linked ponds with a fountain and waterfalls, the Théâtre de Verdure open-air venue, the Calixa-Lavallée cultural centre, a monument to Adam Dollard des Ormeaux, playing fields and tennis courts.

It was part of the first phase of the development of the city's large nature parks, which also included Mount Royal and St. Helen's Island.

The park was named not for its famous fountain, but instead to honor the memory of Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, the first francophone prime minister of the Province of Canada.

The new building is part of an overall plan which includes a central pavilion, a conch for symphony concerts, an amphitheater with a capacity of 4,000 seats, a new bridge and a modification of the two ponds.

In 1965, under the direction of Germaine Dugas, the theatre produced many singers, including among others, Clémence DesRochers, Raymond Lévesque, Pauline Julien and Yvon Deschamps.

For over 50 years, the outdoor theatre offered free cultural programming in a natural setting until its temporary closure in 2014 due to decaying facilities.

On June 30, 2022, the Theatre de Verdure reopened with a new modernized design and equipment adapted to outdoors by the architectural firm Lemay.

[7] For many years the park also hosted the "Garden of Wonders" (French: Jardin des merveilles), a small urban zoo built by the city, which opened on July 5, 1957.

[9] This bronze sculpture in honour of Adam Dollard des Ormeaux was created by sculptor Alfred Laliberté and the architect Alphonse Venne.

[10] Adam Dollard des Ormeaux personified the nationalist sentiment and the desire to write the history of Québec that ruled at the time.

[11] This bronze sculpture in honour of the former premier of the United Province of Canada, Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine was created by sculptor Henri Hébert.