The lands of Rouken Glen Park originally belonged to the Scottish Crown, and then to the Earl of Eglinton, presented to Hugh Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Eglinton on the marriage of his son in the year 1530 by James V.[3] It takes its name from the old Rock End Meal Mill in the glen, which dates back to the early 16th century.

The remains of the meal mill can be seen at the foot of the waterfall, deep within the foliage and rhododendron bushes high on the slope away from the pathway.

Amongst the park's owners were Walter Crum of Thornliebank and Archibald Cameron Corbett, M.P.

It was officially opened on 25 May 1906 and leased in June 1984 to the then Eastwood District Council, whose area was later included by the Local Government etc.

[5] Directly to the south of the park is a golf course (part of a David Lloyd Leisure club based at Deaconsbank,[6] at the southern extremity of which (close to the Neilston branch railway line) is a 16th-century circular dovecote.