On the south side of the Park was the Volunteer Rifle Range with the 800 yard firing point situated near to the Gas Works entrance of the adjacent Railway Works. The range crossed the future site of the blast furnace tip, which is now the Tipkinder Park. The target butts being on the river bank, to the south of Burma Star Island.

During the last war the lake was considered a possible location aid for German aircraft bombing the factories, so in October 1940 the water was drained out and the bottom camouflaged with evergreen branches. Other branches were placed over the greenhouse, however, by April the evergreens were removed and the water replaced. It now transpires that such action was taken too late, for at the end of September 1940 the Germans had taken an aerial photograph of Crewe, showing "LOKOMOTIV/FABRIK" L.M.S.R" and "FLUG-MOTORWERKE, ROLLS ROYCE LTD". These aerial shots also show anti-aircraft barrage balloon sites at the Old Bandstand, Queens Park Petrol Station, opposite St Mary's Catholic Church, Leighton Park and Badger Avenue by Ford Lane. The Ring Road around Queens Park and the band of trees inside were very distinctive from the air.!