Rowntree Park sits on the west bank of the River Ouse, about a mile south of the city centre, and was given to the city of York in 1921 by Joseph Rowntree Junior as a memorial to Rowntree's factory workers who died in the First World War. The Rowntree family were Quakers and philanthropists as well as chocolate manufacturers — the same family that founded what became Rowntree's (later Nestlé) and established model housing estates for their workers in New Earswick. The park reflects this paternalistic generosity: it was intended as a genuine amenity for working people living nearby.
The park has a boating lake, tennis courts, children's play areas, and a small lending library in a converted houseboat moored at the river's edge — one of the more unusual library premises in England. The riverside walk connects to the city centre and the park is a pleasant alternative to the tourist areas for anyone wanting a quiet afternoon. It is well used by local families and considerably less crowded than the city walls or the Shambles.