It was built by a kind-hearted mill owner dedicated to looking after his 2,000 workers.
And now Friends of Meltham Pleasure Grounds are hoping to continue the good spirit.
The group, comprising Christine Senior, Ann Jurczyszyn and Christine Westcott, hopes to improve the park, off Meltham Mills Road.
As well as building houses for his workers, Meltham Mills cotton-spinner and philanthropist Charles Brook Jr built the park for his staff to use in their leisure time.
While the park is in a reasonable condition, Friends of Meltham Pleasure Grounds believes improvements can be made.
The group hopes to install information boards and cut back the undergrowth making it a haven for villagers and wildlife.
It will liaise with Kirklees Council and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust for practical help and advice.
The friends – also members of rambling group Meltham Walkers Are Welcome – held a fundraising dinner earlier this year.
The group holds a Meltham Pleasure Grounds Memories Afternoon, at the Carlile Institute, Huddersfield Road, on September 25 (1pm-3pm).
Visitors are encouraged to bring photos and memories of the park and they can learn how to get involved in the group.
Ms Senior said: “It’s a popular little park and we want to make it nice for everybody and make it a place for wildlife.
“It’s a bit overgrown in places and we’re not going to put it back as it was but we are going to clear some of the overgrown bits and plant some wild flowers.”
Charles Brook was the son of James Brook, a member of banking and cotton-spinning firm Jonas Brook Brothers, at Meltham Mills.
In 1840, he became a partner of the firm and as well as improving the machinery, he improved his workers’ welfare.
He built them homes surrounded by what is today Meltham Pleasure Grounds, visited them when they were ill and taught their children at Sunday School.
Despite marrying he died of pleurisy and bronchitis in 1872, aged 57, leaving no children.
When first built, around 1850, the grounds had an ornamental lake and a waterfall.
The grounds were donated to the people of Meltham in 1944.
