The land on which the park stands was donated by Sir Hedworth Williamson, 8th Baronet and the Church Commissioners, and opened on 23 June 1880.

The northern part of the park is the widest and fronts onto Roker beach via a ravine, which passes under a wooden footbridge.

In the northwest corner of the park is a model narrow gauge railtrack which was built in the 1970s.

The park's bandstand is octagonal, cast-iron with a wood base and a metal-covered roof.

Sunderland Illuminations light up Roker Park and Seaburn from late September until early November.