The local authority was responding to concerns about fly-tipping in a section of the park at the rear of the Valley Leisure Centre.
Rathcoole resident Tony Coyle contacted the Newtownabbey Times last week after noticing that rubbish was being dumped on disused all-weather pitches just yards from the leisure centre, the wildlife pond and the Highway to Health walking trail.
And while the council has admitted moving tonnes of topsoil and gravel onto the site, it has blamed fly-tippers for dumping tonnes of rubble and household and garden waste.
The Times visited the site on Thursday morning with Mr Coyle to see the extent of the problem.
Lying among the many tonnes of inert waste were old lawnmowers and other electrical goods, clothing, plastic and glass bottles, grass and hedge cuttings and even an old artificial Christmas tree.
"I walk my dog here every day, sometimes twice a day. This is a public park and part of the Ulster Way and yet it's a complete eyesore. We're lucky to have this park and such a nice place to walk, but now it's being destroyed," Mr Coyle commented.
"There's builders' waste, garden waste and even what appears to be household rubbish being dumped in the middle of the park. It's unbelievable.
"There's public access to anyone walking in this area and yet all this rubble, broken bottles and other rubbish is just lying around. What if a child was to come up here, they could break an ankle or get badly cut on a broken bottle. Surely this stuff shouldn't just be dumped in the middle of the park."
Another local man who regularly walks in the area added: "They (the council) dumped the rubble from the excavation work at the old all-weather pitches up there last year, but now it seems people are dumping garden waste and all sorts. They're wrecking the park."
A spokesperson for the council stressed that action will be taken to clear up the site and prevent further fly-tipping.
"When land at the Valley Leisure Centre was cleared for the Zest soccer pitches, topsoil and gravel was placed on the old pitches as a temporary measure. The council has been made aware that since then illegal dumping has taken place in the area.
"Steps have been taken to remove this rubbish and the area will now be under surveillance by CCTV. The council is also in the process of planning the removal of the topsoil and gravel," she said.
The Mayor, alderman Nigel Hamilton, added: "It appears that someone has got onto the site and has fly-tipped rubbish and I can assure you that that rubbish will be removed by the council and that the gates will be kept closed from now on."
It is understood that council staff were at the site on Monday and Tuesday and removed several skip loads of household and garden waste.