Savannah's new Daffin Park playground is still closed while crews fix ponding. Final inspection is due Oct. 22; the city will name an opening date in November.
Savannah’s new signature playground in Daffin Park is built but not yet open. Water was pooling on the site after construction, and crews are now laying drainage pipe to fix it.
The city said it will announce an opening date in November, once the playground passes a final inspection. That inspection is expected Thursday, Oct. 22.
The city set out the delay in a release posted Oct. 14 and updated Oct. 16. The same schedule is on the city’s Daffin Park Signature Playground project page.
Why it has not opened
After the playground was built, its drainage was “underperforming” and water began ponding on the site, the city said. It held off opening the play space until the repairs are finished.
The city’s Capital Projects team started installing drainage pipe and regrading the site on Oct. 6. A capital projects report from June had expected the playground to open in August.
What is left, and when
The city listed the remaining work in this order:
| Step | Expected by |
|---|---|
| Drainage work and site restoration | Monday, Oct. 19, weather and drainage permitting |
| Termite treatment | Wednesday, Oct. 21 |
| Final field inspection | Thursday, Oct. 22 |
| New mulch, fence finished, restrooms cleaned and stocked | After inspection, no date given |
| Staffing, maintenance and signs in place; site cleared as safe | No date given |
A ribbon cutting will follow once the opening date is set. The city said its next update is expected after the Oct. 22 inspection.
“We will announce an opening date in November, once the site has passed its final inspection and is ready for fun and laughter,” Ashley Reynolds Marshall, the city’s chief of community services, said in the release.
What the playground has
The playground sits in the northwest corner of Daffin Park, 1301 E. Victory Drive. According to the city, it:
- is designed for children ages 2 to 12
- is fully ADA-compliant, built so children of all abilities can play together
- has a splash pad, restrooms and several play zones
It is the city’s first signature playground. It comes out of Recreation Reimagined, a program Savannah City Council approved in 2021. The city said it has spent more than $4 million on recreation upgrades across Savannah since then.
What it means for you
- The playground is not open yet. The city expects to name the opening date in November, so do not plan a visit around it this month.
- The rest of Daffin Park is open as usual, including the 1.5-mile loop, the lake and the dog park. Our parks and trails guide has the details.
- Looking for somewhere to play now? Our kids’ activities guide lists the city’s splash pads, the Forsyth Park playground and rainy-day options.
- Questions go to the city’s Recreation and Leisure Services department through the project page.
We will update this story when the city confirms the opening date.
Have your say