The City of Savannah plans to begin construction on a new playground at Daffin Park and make upgrades to the existing playground at Forsyth Park in early September, according to the Recreation and Leisure Services Department.
Work on the Daffin Park Signature Playground is expected to start during the second week of September and continue for about four months. The project is described as a major component of the city’s Recreation Re-Imagined Initiative and represents one of its largest investments so far.
The new playground will be located in the northwest corner of Daffin Park and will be designed for children ages 2-12. It will comply with ADA standards and include a restroom facility and splashpad. The design features seven distinct zones, including splish-n-splash, twist-n-turn, bump-n-jump, story time, swing-n-things, and a mega zone equipped with climbing units, activity stations, slides, inground whirl equipment, seesaw, shade cover, and other amenities.
At Forsyth Park, crews will begin replacing the worn-out poured-in-place rubber surface and engineered wood fiber at the playground starting in early September. The city states that these surfaces no longer meet safety requirements. The rubber surface will be replaced and expanded while wood fiber will be upgraded to more durable rubber mulch. This work is expected to last two weeks during which time the playground will be closed.
“In 2021, City Council approved the Recreation Reimagined initiative to create and expand high-quality recreation facilities and experiences for residents. Since then, the City has invested more than $4 million in recreation infrastructure upgrades citywide.”
For additional information about Recreation Re-Imagined projects or updates visit https://www.savannahga.gov/recreimagined.
According to public documents from Agenda Plus (https://agenda.savannahga.gov/publishing/june-8-2023-city-council-regular-meeting/1446_9295.html), authorization was given for a contract with JOC Construction totaling $384,150 for work on the Daffin Signature Playground. This contract aims to improve current amenities as well as provide groundwork for accessible play structures, a splash pad, and bathroom facilities.
