Construction is underway in both of Savannah's signature parks this fall, and the two projects are moving in opposite directions. In Daffin Park's northwest corner, a new playground with a splash pad is waiting for an opening date the city has said it will announce in November. At the north end of Forsyth Park, crews are taking old playground equipment out to make room for a courtyard with seating and shade trees. Daffin is gaining a dedicated play space, and Forsyth's north end is being rebuilt for seating and shade. Herb Traub, a Savannah civic leader, connects the two projects.
What Waits at Daffin's Northwest Corner
The Daffin Park Signature Playground is designed for children ages 2 to 12. It is fully ADA-compliant and includes a splash pad and an on-site restroom. The city calls it Savannah's first signature playground. Community Services chief Ashley Reynolds Marshall described it in the city's announcement as "a space designed for all abilities so every Savannah family may play together for years to come."
The play area is divided into themed zones. The city's September 2025 announcement names these:
- Splish-n-Splash, built around the splash pad
- Twist-n-Turn
- Bump-n-Jump
- Story Time
- Swing-n-Things
- Mega, with two large climbing units, activity stations, slides, an in-ground whirl, a seesaw and shade cover
Recreation and Leisure's Ricky Allison told WSAV the design goes beyond physical access. "Every child gets to play next to another child," he said, adding that "disabilities don't just mean physical. We're talking about emotional, mental, and social." He also told the station that the new playground sits right beside a play structure Daffin received the year before. He said the site will be fenced and lit, the parking on Warren Drive is being expanded, and the restrooms are automated to lock overnight.
On cost, WSAV called it an investment of more than $1 million and one of the largest single projects under the city's Recreation Re-Imagined initiative. The city's 2025 release links a $384,150 JOC Construction contract that covers groundwork, the accessible play structures, the splash pad and the bathroom facility.
Why a Four-Month Build Reached October
When construction was announced in September 2025, WSAV reported that work would start Sept. 22 and take about four months. The holdup came after the play equipment was in. According to the city's Oct. 14 update, drainage on the finished site underperformed and water began ponding. The city then held off on opening the playground until repairs were complete.
On Oct. 6, the Capital Projects team, led by project manager Ashley Sullivan, began installing drainage pipe and regrading the site. The city published the remaining steps in this order:
- Drainage improvements and site restoration, expected by Oct. 19
- Termite treatment, expected by Oct. 21
- Final field inspection, expected by Oct. 22
- New mulch, finished fencing and stocked restrooms
- A declaration of operational readiness once staffing, maintenance and signage are in place
That update was last revised on Oct. 16. On Oct. 20, WTOC ran a segment titled "Daffin Park playground repairs near completion." The city has said the opening date will come in November, after the final inspection, and that a ribbon-cutting will follow. For now the playground is still closed. The best place to watch for the announcement is the city's project page.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Construction start reported by WSAV | Sept. 22, 2025 |
| Estimated build time at announcement | About four months |
| Corrective drainage work begins | Oct. 6, 2026 |
| Final field inspection on the city's schedule | Oct. 22, 2026 |
| Opening date announcement expected | November 2026 |
The North End of Forsyth Changes Its Purpose
Forsyth Park's project goes the other way. The Herb Traub Gathering Space will replace a corner at the park's north end with new seating, shade trees, landscaping and better accessibility. WTOC reported on Oct. 7 that October work includes tree pruning, grading and removing the old playground equipment. The plans call for a courtyard with new hardscaping. According to WTOC's November 2025 report, the city wants the corner to become a "hub of conversation and connection within the community."
That same report covered the public session at the Bull Street Library in November 2025, where Rotary members presented plans, gathered feedback and took questions. Rotary is paying for construction, with the city contributing too. City Council's June 11, 2026 agenda approved a memorandum of agreement with the Rotary Club of Savannah and the Rotary Club of Metropolitan Savannah. Under the agreement, the two clubs design the space, hire the contractors and pay for construction. The city handles permits and provides specified materials and services, including plant material, irrigation and lighting, and it takes over maintenance once the space is finished. Metro Savannah Rotary raised money for the space through its bowl-a-thon fundraiser in May 2025.
WTOC also reported that the city is still working out locations, schedules and budgets for more projects in Forsyth Park and plans to share updates as those come together. The city's Gathering Space page is where those updates will be posted.
The Name Already Has a Place in Daffin Park
The council agenda describes Herb Traub as a pioneer in building Savannah into a destination. After he retired from the Pirates' House, he led Downtown Rotary projects that put lights in the downtown squares, built a clock tower at City Market, and added an Olympic Legacy fountain and path to Daffin Park. The same document quotes him: "If I was able to do anything to improve my hometown, that gave me extreme pleasure."
So the man whose Rotary work shaped part of Daffin is now the namesake of Forsyth's new courtyard, in the same season that Daffin's new playground nears its opening. Both projects aim to make a corner of a public park work for more people. In Daffin, that means children of all abilities playing side by side. In Forsyth, it means shade, seating and easier access at the park's north end.
What Is Open in Forsyth While the North End Is Rebuilt
Work at the north end covers one corner of Forsyth Park, and another project in the park is already done. The Forsyth Park tennis courts reopened on Sept. 25 after a renovation that began in June. The city scheduled the work for summer to limit disruption to regular play. Edwards Construction Group replaced the worn courts, fencing and site amenities and laid new asphalt with sport-specific surfacing, under a contract capped at $363,081. The courts are open from dawn to 9 p.m. every day, with lights from 6 to 9 p.m. Reservations go through the Bacon Park Tennis Center at 912-351-3850.
The south end runs on its usual schedule. The Forsyth Farmers' Market sets up every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bull Street and Park Avenue, year-round, rain or shine except in extreme weather. On Saturday, Nov. 14, the Savannah Southern Half starts and finishes in Forsyth Park, so that morning's market falls on race day.
| Date | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| Every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Forsyth Park, south end | Forsyth Farmers' Market |
| Daily, dawn to 9 p.m. | Forsyth Park | Renovated tennis courts, lit 6 to 9 p.m. |
| Saturday, Nov. 14 | Forsyth Park | Savannah Southern Half start and finish |
| November, date to be announced | Daffin Park, northwest corner | Signature Playground opening and ribbon-cutting |
| Ongoing this fall | Forsyth Park, north end | Herb Traub Gathering Space construction |
When the city announces the Daffin date, families who visit Daffin Park will have a fenced, lit playground with a splash pad, a restroom and more parking on Warren Drive. Families who use Forsyth will have a new shaded courtyard at its north end once Rotary finishes building it.
At Karen Ryan, we follow updates like these because they shape everyday life in Savannah, from where to take visiting grandchildren to which end of Forsyth to use for a Saturday stroll. If you'd like to talk about how either park fits a move or a second home in Savannah, Let's Connect.
