The Castle Museum's Development Plan of 1956 looked forward into the 1960s with at six major schemes which had been agreed upon in principle for several years. Three of these would mark the beginnings of a folk park in the area of Castle Mills Bridge: the development of a yard for a smithy, &c; improvement of the river frontage; and the re-erection of Raindale Mill. The report points out that more space would be needed to pursue the folk park ideal more fully. A seventh scheme, shown here, looked to this need at a future date.

"The nearest and most convenient ground is that at present occupied by the car park and the foundations of the civic building. This area could not be more conveniently sited and could be most successfully developed as a folk park. This development would entail only the roofing over with concrete at ground level of the existing foundations, and would provide an ideal site adjacent to the Castle Museum.

The foundations themselves would provide admirable museum storage accomodation where reserve material could be classified and made available to students. As the primary aim of any museum is to preserve material for the present and future generations it is essential to have adequate and suitable stores, and these foundations, with their existing ramp entries, would be ideal for the purpose."

The report goes on to suggest the buildings which could be re-erected. Some were already in storage in 1956 and remain unseen to this day. It is not generally appreciated how extensive are the museum's reserve collections, stored in locations scattered around the city.

"Clifford's Tower would most appropriately dominate the scene, and if surrounded by a water-garden, as has been suggested elsewhere, its attractions would be considerably enhanced." [A partial recreation of the ancient moat and of the bridge which linked the motte to the bailey is indicated on the plan.]

A new entrance was proposed "via a building adjoining the north wall of the Kirk Collection which would mask the unsightly wall and also act as a caretaker's residence for the better protection of the area."

These proposals were met with a counter-proposal to use 12 acres of land around the Elizabethan Heslington Hall. Eventually this was chosen as the site for York University. The folk park was then proposed at Fulford, with links to the Castle area along the Ouse. St.George's Field was another possible location. The idea was put before the public in the mid-1960s when it attracted much public support. Funding, however, proved uncertain, and although the scheme was pursued for several years it did not go ahead.

In the late 1980s there were further suggestions for something of this nature between Clifford's Tower and the Foss. These seem to have been made independently of the original folk park idea. A motion to the Council for a proper study to be commissioned was withdrawn. A brief for commercial development of the land came forward soon after.