[2] The park was laid out in 1887 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, and extended from Bogs Field in the south, to the pump house at what is now the northern end of the gardens.

[5] Bogs Field is noted for having the largest cluster of mineral springs in England, with 36 wells bringing water that is rich in either sulphur or iron (chalybeate).

[7][8] In 1911, the first "provincial performance" (i.e. outside the major cities such as London, Birmingham or Glasgow) of Edward Elgar's second symphony was held in Valley Gardens.

The path runs from the Royal Pump Museum in Harrogate, through Valley Gardens and Harlow Carr to meet up with the Dales Way at Ilkley.

[12] Valley Gardens are now with[clarification needed] the conservation of Harrogate, and are Grade II listed by Historic England.

[2][13] The Sun Pavilion and Colonnade, on the north side of the gardens, was built in 1933 and is a grade II listed building.

The pump track would cover an area of 22,000 square feet (2,000 m2), and cost around £2,000 for the council's in-house parks department to install.