The official opening for Savannah’s first signature playground at Daffin Park is delayed. This installment of On Our Radar will provide details for the delay and an updated timeline for opening.
Also, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners approved a $1 million change order to its construction contract for the Multi-Agency Public Safety Facility.
Follow here for the reason and what the project total increased to.
If you have neighborhood updates, organization events, or news tips you think could be of service to Savannahians, send them to elasseter@usatodayco.com. Also reach out if there are stories here you would like to know more about. Deadline for the On Our Radar series will be the end of day each Friday.
sees record September volumes
Daffin Park playground delay
Passersby on Waters Avenue or runners around Daffin Park’s loop can’t miss the hulking play features erected on the park’s east end. The various slides and climbing features appear ready for a host of hurrying kids—but not quite yet.
The City of Savannah is currently conducting corrective drainage work on the site after ponding of water occurred on the playground after initial construction, according to a City of Savannah press release.
The city began installing new drainage pipes and restoring the site to its correct grade on Oct. 6. The city ultimately decided to delay the official opening until after the repairs are complete.
“The city is excited to open its first signature playground at Daffin Park, a space designed for all abilities so every Savannah family may play together for years to come,” said the city’s Community Services Chief Ashley Reynolds Marshall. “We will announce an opening date in November, once the site has passed its final inspection and is ready for fun and laughter.”
The new drainage improvements are expected for completion by Oct. 19. Additional termite treatment will be completed on Oct. 21.
That work will set up a final field inspection scheduled for Oct. 22, after which an update on the opening is expected.
County MAPSF construction cost increases
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the $1 million change order on its $78.8 million construction contract for its Multi-Agency Public Safety Facility.
The change order is a compilation of 20 different requested changes to the project’s details due to “unforeseen site conditions,” according to the agenda memo. The change order will cover unexpected soil remediation needed on the site and new technology developed since the original design, said Chatham Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Dennis Jones.
Given the scale of the investment, commissioners expressed the need to make sure the building is built at high quality. The facility is one of the single largest capital projects in county history and will serve as the emergency headquarters for CEMA. The building is designed to withstand category 5 hurricanes.
"We've got to make sure it's done right, because if you're spending that much money you don't want to do it halfway," said District 1 Wayne Noha.
Evan Lasseter is the city of Savannah and Chatham County government reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at ELasseter@savannahnow.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Daffin Park playground opening delayed | On Our Radar
