荷花池公園原名南池、硯池,又因池中廣植荷花而名為“荷花池”。清初汪(wang)玉樞在(zai)池(chi)邊建有別墅,名南園,為(wei)當時(shi)揚州八(ba)大(da)名園之一(yi)。園臨硯(yan)池(chi),隔(ge)岸(an)有文峰(feng)塔,景名“硯(yan)池(chi)染(ran)翰”。園主購得太湖奇石九(jiu)峰(feng),大(da)者過(guo)丈,小者及尋,玲(ling)瓏(long)剔透(tou),相傳系(xi)宋代花石綱(gang)遺(yi)(yi)物(wu)。該(gai)園舊有澄空宇、海桐(tong)書(shu)屋、玉玲(ling)瓏(long)館、雨(yu)花庵、深柳讀(du)書(shu)堂、谷雨(yu)軒(xuan)、風漪閣諸勝(sheng)。乾(qian)隆帝南巡游此(ci),大(da)加贊賞,賜名九(jiu)峰(feng)園,并紀事略。后奉旨(zhi)選(xuan)二(er)峰(feng)送往(wang)京師(shi)御苑,揚州今尚存(cun)二(er)峰(feng),一(yi)在(zai)瘦西湖,一(yi)在(zai)史公祠,稱(cheng)“南園遺(yi)(yi)石”。嘉慶之后園漸圮(pi),咸豐年間(jian),廢而不(bu)存(cun)。
1981年(nian)在荷花池(chi)建(jian)(jian)南(nan)郊水上公(gong)園(yuan),即荷花池(chi)公(gong)園(yuan)。公(gong)園(yuan)在池(chi)之(zhi)北(bei),呈半鳥形(xing),綠樹(shu)成(cheng)蔭。已建(jian)(jian)古典式(shi)磚木廳房、風景(jing)各一座。廳房三(san)楹(ying),三(san)面(mian)回廊,飛(fei)檐翹角;六(liu)角風亭(ting)居西北(bei)高阜,檐下(xia)六(liu)面(mian)飾(shi)精雕花板。園(yuan)內(nei)(nei)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)花房,栽百余種花木,四季(ji)花香(xiang),春(chun)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)杜鵑、茶(cha)花、春(chun)蘭、茉莉;夏(xia)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)仙人(ren)曇花、睡(shui)蓮、六(liu)月雪、夾竹桃;秋有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)桂花、菊花、石(shi)蒜、一串紅;冬有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)臘梅、天竹等。四季(ji)常綠的有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)鐵樹(shu)、五針(zhen)松、南(nan)洋杉、黽背竹等。園(yuan)內(nei)(nei)陳列大量盆景(jing),樹(shu)種有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)黃(huang)楊(yang)、雀梅、榆樁、羅漢松、刺柏等。花房內(nei)(nei)置小型湖(hu)石(shi)假山(shan),旁有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)水池(chi),假山(shan)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)滴(di)泉(quan)。公(gong)園(yuan)池(chi)面(mian)放(fang)養(yang)魚(yu)苗(miao),池(chi)南(nan)辟作苗(miao)圃。