The Poor Howdens Charity had been set up to encourage the woollen and linen industry. In practice, this consisted of offering loans at reasonable rates to small businesses in these trades ix. By the nineteenth century, this was no longer necessary as the industry had come to be dominated by large companies. After reconsidering the charity’s role, the trustees agreed to the recommendation that the land should become a park.

Previously, the main access to the site was at the southeast corner, via a path from Neasham Road. The path was now made wider, in order to allow carriages to pass, but this did not solve the problem of the site being effectively remote to the general public. To rectify this, a footbridge was constructed over the river, connecting to a path on the Polam Hall estate, adjacent to Neasham House, providing access from Grange Roadx. Consequently, the site now became within easy reach for many more people and the potential for development as a park became more likely.

The new Committee of Darlington Public Park invited designs for a suitable layout for a park xi. It is not known how many were submitted or whose design was chosen, but it is evident that at least two designs were considered xii.