The ponds were created by the extraction of clay which is used by the local tile making industry. The park offers ample car parking and toilet facilities including provision for people with disabilities. For individuals who prefer a longer walk, the ' Viking Way ' starts from the old boat house which is open as an information centre during the summer months. There is also a foot path along the banks of the Humber where you can view the tile works. Silica Park is an informal country park, based on the site of a former sand workings.
Visitors can enjoy a walk through the park, take the family for a picnic or angling on the lake.
A group of local residents, 'Friends of Silica Park' are taking an active interest in the management and improvement of the park, ensuring its conservation and future development. Manor Park is a 33 acre expanse of grassland resting on the hillside of Scunthorpe. The open grassland is suitable for a number of children's ball games and is particularly popular for tobogganing in the winter months. There is also a large children's play area with slides, swings, climbing frames and other play equipment. Manor Park hosts the annual Scunthorpe Fair, held in the second week of Easter.