Forsyth Park
Forsyth Park is the largest park in the historic district of Savannah. Occupying 30 acres of land along the Bull Avenue Corridor, it extends from Gaston Street to Park Avenue. With its long history and symbolic significance, it has become one of Savannah’s most iconic landmarks. Tourists who visit Savannah for its culture and history often include this beautiful, old-school park in their itinerary.
History of Forsyth Park
Forsyth Park was first laid out in the 1840s on 10 acres of land donated by William Hodgson. In 1851, Georgia Governor John Forsyth donated another 20 acres of land, and in honor of this contribution, the city of Savannah named the park after him.
Forsyth Park was the culmination of Savannah founder James Oglethorpe’s vision of a community with an expansive park as the center point. This made Savannah one the United States’ first planned communities.
The land on which Forsyth Park was built also holds its own significance. During the American Revolution, it was the site of the allied French and American troops’ camps in the city, just outside the British line of defense. In an allied siege, the French commander dug trenches in the area with the aim of digging the troops’ way into the British line. Unfortunately, the siege ended unsuccessfully before the plan could be completed.
Features
Forsyth Park is covered by a multitude of trees, many of which are as old as or even older than the park itself. It features walkways, park benches, iron fencing, and open green spaces, as well as tennis courts, basketball courts and soccer fields. It is also the home field of the Savannah Shamrocks Rugby Club.
The park is the venue for the Forsyth Farmers Market every Saturday, as well as concerts and other events throughout the year.
The main features of the park are as follows:
- The Forsyth Park Fountain – erected in 1858, the fountain’s design reflects the park’s European-style layout. It’s located at the northern end of the park, welcoming visitors in a grand way. The fountain was actually ordered from a catalog, which would explain its similarity to another fountain in Poughkeepsie, New York and another one in Cuzco, Peru. On St. Patrick’s Day each year, the fountain is the center of a very unique tradition—its waters are dyed green to celebrate the occasion.
- The Confederate Memorial – created by sculptor David Richards to commemorate Confederacy volunteers, the Confederate Memorial features a large, ornately carved column with a bronze solider on top. It can be found right in the middle of the park. This was a replacement for the original memorial, a two-piece sculpture called “Judgment” and “Silence,” which, unfortunately, the locals did not like.
- The Fragrant Garden – this walled floral garden is unique in one aspect: it was especially created for the blind. While everyone can appreciate the beautiful blooms in the garden, the walls serve to contain the flowers’ scent so the blind can fully enjoy them. The captions on the plaques around the garden are embossed in Braille.
