札幌市民の憩いの場で、特に毎年5月上旬には花見客、6月には「北海道神宮例祭」の参拝客でにぎわいます。
もとは明治初期に開拓使が設置した樹木の試験場だったが、明治末から大正にかけて公園として整備されました。

広大な敷地には円山球場や円山競技場、坂下グラウンドなどの運動施設を備え、隣接する北海道神宮や円山動物園、天然記念物に指定されている円山原始林とともに、レクリエーションやスポーツ文化の中心としての役割も担っています。園内には、試験場の名残をとどめるスギ林やカツラの大木も見られ、目を凝らすとリスや野草、野鳥なども数多く観察できます。

古くからの桜の名所でもあり、園内にはエゾヤマザクラ、ソメイヨシノなど約160本の桜が植えられています。

Sapporo citizens' place of relaxation, especially every year in early May, cherry blossom viewing visitors, in June, "Hokkaido Shrine Annual Festival"'s worshippers with it is bustling.
Originally, in the early Meiji period, by the Hokkaido Development Commission established trees' testing ground it was, but from the late Meiji period through the Taisho period, as a park it was developed.

In its vast grounds, Maruyama Baseball Stadium and Maruyama Athletics Stadium, Sakashita Ground, etc., sports facilities it is equipped with, adjacent Hokkaido Shrine and Maruyama Zoo, natural monument designated as Maruyama Primeval Forest together with, recreation and sports culture's center as a role also it plays. Within the park, testing ground's vestiges retaining cedar forests and Katsura's large trees also can be seen, eyes straining, squirrels and wild plants, wild birds, etc., also many can be observed.

From old times' cherry blossoms' famous place also it is, within the park, Ezo-yamazakura, Somei-Yoshino, etc., approximately 160 trees' cherry blossoms are planted.