Forsyth Park - Year in Review

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Another TGC year has flown by! First and foremost, we would like to thank our wonderful committee for all of their hard work. The project has achieved several significant milestones this year that set us up for success going forward. We would also like to thank the membership for their ongoing support and patience. Projects like this take time and progress comes in baby steps. However, like a garden, success can be slow and the work challenging and then, at the very time you are unsure it will ever bloom, Ta Da!!! 

City Council and staff have been tremendously supportive of our efforts. Please, when you see them out and about, share your enthusiasm for the project and extend your thanks for their support.

2018 - 2019 Project Milestones

· Established a positive and productive working relationship with City of Savannah staff.

· Secured formal support of City Manager and Council to proceed with project through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between TGC and the city. (The MOU states that TGC will manage the project as well as take responsibility for underwriting the full cost through club fundraising efforts and grants. The City of Savannah agrees to support and facilitate the club’s efforts and to adopt the master plan once completed.)

· A star was born! Meb made her TV debut on a WTOC News interview (link)

· Project also featured on WSAV news (link)

· Small features inventory of the park completed

· Cultural Landscape Report near completion. The report is a detailed and scholarly report describing the park’s history, its significance in context of other urban parks in the United States, previous and existing conditions, features and uses, and periods of significance. The final document will represent the most comprehensive history of Forsyth Park ever created! 

The summer will be a busy time for the project. Behind the scenes we will be working with the city to finalize the request for proposals to release to landscape planning firms to create the master plan. We will also be working with Historic Savannah to finalize and release the request for proposals to hire a consultant to write and manage the Historic Landmark Designation process.

BREAKING NEWS: Anthony Debreceny, owner of The Collins Quarter, The Fitzroy and The Deck restaurants was awarded the contract for the Forsyth Park Café at the April 25th City Council meeting. He is planning to renovate the space over the summer and open the restaurant in September!