In 1958, a Park Ranger Service was formed in Manchester but, after consultation with the Chief Constable of the Manchester City Police, the Service became known as the Manchester Parks Police in June 1959. 1974 saw a significant change take place in that Service, due to the fact that the parks then only formed part of the Service's work, the title was changed to the Manchester Recreational Services Department Police. By this time, the Service were patrolling not only the city's parks but also schools, the Manchester Flower Show and other Council properties.

1978 saw the first woman officer join the Service and in this year, in response to attacks on staff, patrols of the city's libraries began. In 1980 a small change to the uniform took place with the introduction of an oval chrome epaulette badge, this was identical to the cap badge except the oval was horizontal and not vertical like on the cap badge. 1982 saw the police dog display team which had been founded in 1970 disbanded. 1988 saw a more obvious change to the uniform with the arrival of the green and white cap band. It was at this time that the Council decided to disband the Service and in February 1991 it returned to a Park Ranger Service. Those officers remaining in the force went on to form the core of the new city-wide security force looking after all Council property with the exception of the market, which retained its police service until 1998.

At the time of its disbandment, the Service comprised one Superintendent, four Sergeants, eight Dog Handlers, eighteen Constables and six Cemetery Patrols. Training was provided both in-house and by Greater Manchester Police, who also provided training for the Service's Dog Section.