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Meanwood Park used to be known as Meanwoodside, and was the country estate on the edge of Leeds owned by Edward Oates (1792-1865), a wealthy lawyer and a relative of Captain Oates of Antarctic fame Oates acquired the land, including the original hall (Whalley House, no longer extant) from 1825 to 1834 and landscaped it from the 1840s to 1860s. It remained in private hands until the 1950s when the City Council acquired it as a public park.

The Meanwood Beck runs through the centre of the park and its various weirs, ponds and bridges form an attractive centrepiece. Facilities at the south-eastern corner comprise a car park, cafe, toilets, bowling green, basketball court and children's playground. The park is otherwise largely open space but with wooded areas to the east, north and west edges.