The Downs open space was originally common land, preserved from the 1860s as parkland as a result of pressure by the Commons Preservation Society. At 16 hectares (40 acres),^[1] the park is one of the larger open spaces wholly within the London Borough of Hackney. It has a play area, basketball courts, football pitches and a bowling green.

Occupying, as it does, a fairly central place in Hackney, the park used to be the yearly venue for the popular Hackney Show, but this event — which helped to give a sense of community and identity to an often-troubled borough — has been discontinued in recent times as a cost-cutting measure, as have the regular Fireworks Night shows. The park was given a Green Flag award in July 2008.^[2]

The ‘Hackney Downs’ neighbourhood can be described as the western part of Lower Clapton; the area to the west of Cricketfield Road and east of the railway line. The streets north and south of the park are dominated by social housing (such as the Nightingale Estate) – these areas were largely rebuilt during the 1930s and 1960s.

Hackney Downs School was also located here. The site has been redeveloped as the Mossbourne Community Academy.

Hackney Downs is currently a ward name, the represented area of three councillors, of Hackney Council up for election every 4 years.

The two London Overground stations are Hackney Central on the North London line and Hackney Downs on the Lea Valley Lines to Liverpool Street.

• Mossbourne Community Academy Archived 23 October 2005 at the Wayback Machine
• Blasts From The Past^{[permanent dead link]} (LBH film of demolition of the tower blocks on the north side of the Downs).