Forsyth Park: Savannah's Oldest Urban Park

Forsyth Park, originally known as Forsyth Place, is the largest park in the city of Savannah. It is located at the intersection of Drayton and Whitaker Streets. The park is about five blocks from Interstate 16 at the southern end of Savannah's historic district. Once at the edge of the city, Forsyth Park is now centrally located. Because of its desirable location, many of the city's most exclusive hotels and B&Bs are located on or near the park.

When General James Oglethorpe laid out the city in 1733, it was the first city in North America to have a planned street design. He included many small squares, which served as focal points for their neighborhoods. He anticipated the inclusion of a larger park that would serve the entire city, but, as of the 1840s, no park had been built. When Paris began building parks and boulevards in the mid-19th century, many cities, including Savannah, emulated the continental style. Originally ten acres, the park was expanded to 30 acres by a gift from former Georgia governor John Forsyth.

Points of interest in the park begin with the ornate, wrought-iron fountain, possibly modeled after the fountain in the Place de la Concorde in Paris. The fountain was added to the park in 1858. Every year during the St. Patrick's Day Festival, the 2nd largest St. Patrick's Day celebration in the country, the water in the graceful old fountain is dyed bright green. After the Civil War, a Confederate Memorial was installed to commemorate volunteers who died in the war. The park is also home to Hodgson Hall, a 19-century building which stores and exhibits artifacts from the Georgia Historical Society.

The northern end of the park is more formal. It includes the famous fountain, quiet walking paths and formal gardens, including the Fragrant Garden for the Blind. This part of the park sees the most visitors from out of town. The southern end of the park is more recreational, with large fields for soccer or rugby, basketball courts, tennis courts and playgrounds. Local residents use this end of the park. Outdoor concerts and theatrical events occur frequently in the park.

Forsyth Park is a popular place for events in Savannah. Many annual festivals are held in and around the park, including:

the Savannah Pride Festival

the Savannah Jazz Festival

the Savannah Children's Book Festival

the SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival

Mercer in the Park

the Savannah Shakespeare Festival

the Shalom Y'all Jewish Food Festival

No one seems to have a negative review of Forsyth Park on any of the popular travel websites. Locals love it as a playground and respite from the city, and visitors from out of town rave about its beauty and charm as an emblem of the Old South. One commenter noted "the pathways, the moss, the oaks and the picture perfect setting ... no words can describe the joy!'' Another summed it up by saying, "No trip to Savannah is complete without a trip to the park!!!''