After various setbacks which were largely due to poor weather conditions xvii, the park was officially opened. The actual date of opening is unknown. It was the first public park in the North East of England. It became known by several names – Bellasis Park, The People’s Park, New Park, Victoria Park and even simply The Park – before finally settling on the name South Park xviii.

For a while, the adjacent township of Blackwell claimed that the land fell within their jurisdiction and that rates should be paid to them rather than to Darlington xix. There may be some justification for this depending on whether the site was originally part of the Polam Hill estate immediately to the south or of another estate to the north. Different maps from around this period show the boundary either along the north edge or the south edge of the park. A survey commissioned by the Council and carried out in 1829 includes the land as lying within the Darlington township xx. The first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1856 agrees with this. Some other maps disagree however, notably a Borough Surveyor’s plan dated 1852xxi, which shows the boundary on the north edge and therefore putting the park in Blackwell.