Thursday night, Alderman Kurtis Purtee announced that Tribble Park will no longer be considered as a potential site of the future community recreation and leisure facility in Windsor Forest.
Purtee made the announcement on Facebook at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, and in his statement, he included the text of a memorandum that he had received minutes earlier from City Manager Jay Melder.
Melder’s email was sent to Purtee at 5:51 p.m.; Purtee announced on Facebook at 5:58 p.m.
In a call with Connect Savannah, Alderman Kurtis Purtee said,
“After having the meetings, and after the discussions, it almost felt like the Tribble Park issue was dividing the community rather than bringing it together. The community center is a huge win for the southside, a huge win for Windsor Forest, and I don’t want us to lose out on that huge win by being divided over the location of it. So, although I think that Tribble could have been a great spot, I think that we can utilize one of the other locations to really enhance what the community center is going to be.”
The other two properties that are currently being considered are LaVida at 535 Windsor Road (1.96 acres), and former Woody’s Skate Park at 214 & 218 Windsor Road (1.63 acres).
“I think that there’s a lot of benefit in the old skate park, that’s the direction that I’m leaning, but I want the community to have their input on that. I want this to be a community driven project,” continued Purtee.
At a heated May 1 community meeting, City Manager Jay Melder explained how the Tribble Park site had checked more “boxes” versus the other two options that were being evaluated.
Purtee said, “What we are going to do is look at the boxes that weren’t checked, and figure out how we can really develop whatever parcel we have. It’s going to take some creativity to do, some outside of the box thinking, and not your traditional looking community center.”
In a call with Connect Savannah, Mayor Van Johnson said, “It’s not reversing direction. I think that’s been the problem. The unfortunate part about this, for whatever reason, obviously there were mixed signals coming from folks, but this had never been presented to me. We have to determine the pros and cons of each site.”
On March 11, there was a two minute video titled “Southside Community Center Plans Moving Forward” that announced that the city had chosen Tribble Park as the site for the Southside Community Center. The video, anchored by Ken Slats for SGTV’s City Span, was released on the City of Savannah Government Facebook page and included an interview about the project with Alderman Kurtis Purtee.
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“This is supposed to be a project to bring people together, and not rip them apart, so I just want them to decide on a site. That was my conversation with the City Manager. At the end of the day, I want something built out there. My position has not changed,” said Mayor Johnson. “The City Manager and his team are charged to evaluate all possible sites. There might be something that might be better for one reason or another, and some might be worse for some reason or another.”
“Since Council had not been presented with any sites to consider, it doesn’t necessarily delay the process. At the end of the day, I want it built and I want it built soon. My instruction to the City Manager was, ‘go ahead and finish your due diligence, present us a site, and let’s get it built’. So whatever $9 million will buy us, then we will go ahead and build it because that is what we promised,” concluded Johnson.
Community reaction to the announcement this evening has been quick and jubilant.
Michelle Mulvehill – Windsor Forest resident and mom of two:
“I was elated to read the response from Jay Melder announcing the removal of Joseph Tribble Park from the possible site list for the proposed Community Center. The residents of Windsor Forest feel like we are finally being heard. No homeowner wants to feel like their voices are silenced. I’ve never heard the community center referred to as a “recreation and leisure facility” before this communication. Perhaps they are trying to change the tone of the reply, I’m uncertain, but we count this as a win for those that love Tribble Park for the quiet, wooded place to escape the overly developed surroundings in Savannah. We look forward to continued discussion on improvements to the park without adding a large building or asphalt. A restroom facility and shaded playground would be at the top of my personal list, followed by increased security cameras.”
Lizzie Daiss – Windsor Forest resident and mom of three:
“I’m really happy to be moving forward and start discussing updating our Windsor Forest neighborhood to meet the needs of all its residents.The location of the community center has never been my priority but its amenities and programming is. I can’t wait to work together as I have many exciting ideas for creating engagement and enrichment in the neighborhood. From events, community spaces, programming, community outreach and more! I am ready to work with my neighbors to plan, not only the needs for Tribble’s much needed improvements for recreation and safety, as well as all the public spaces in our neighborhood! Congratulations to those who relentlessly advocated for their needs, now it’s time we get to work together and plan fun and engaging things for the community.”
Ryan Cummings – Windsor Forest resident:
“We are beyond happy about the decision the City has made about taking Tribble Park off the list of possible places for the South Side Community Center. And I’m sure the wildlife and natural space that doesn’t have a voice is thankful too. It’s also nice to know that when the community sticks together we can be heard, and I believe we were heard loud and clear.”
Morgan Pikkard – Windsor Forest resident:
“I honestly don’t have an opinion on where the community center should go. I don’t know if I agree that Tribble was the wrong place to have it or if I think it should go on the Lavida lot. I do believe in the power of protest though and being loud. It is invaluable and has been the driving force behind some very popular social movements. I hope people continue to speak up when they feel injustice and demand accountability from their representatives.”
Barbara Pearson – Windsor Forest resident:
“Tribble Park being off the table is the result the majority of residents wanted, and as Mr. Melder himself stated, that was made quite clear at the May 1st community meeting. We spoke and they listened, which is exactly how it’s supposed to work. A lot of people are very happy right now.”
Announcement from Purtee made at 5:58 p.m. on Facebook Thursday, after he received the email from City Manager Jay Melder at 5:51 p.m.
Tribble Park will no longer be considered as a potential site of the future community recreation and leisure facility in Windsor Forest.
From City Manager Jay Melder: As you are aware, Alderman Kurtis Purtee and the City held a community meeting earlier this month to discuss possible locations for a community recreation and leisure facility in Windsor Forest and to hear feedback directly from residents and stakeholders. Many of you were in attendance and can likely attest to the ample amount of feedback we received from the very well attended meeting.
One bit of feedback that I received very clearly was that many residents would oppose the development of this facility at Tribble Park, which was one of the locations under consideration. While Tribble Park has many of the attributes required to successfully site this facility, there are other locations that can also meet our needs, and which may come with greater support from residents.
The purpose of this project is to bring a much needed and much desired community asset to the families and individuals in Windsor Forest and nearby communities, and to provide space and programming aimed to improve heath, community, and quality of life for residents. As such, we should be guided by their vision. Therefore, after discussing the issue at length with Alderman Purtee, I have made the decision to remove Tribble Park from consideration as a potential site for the facility. Our focus will now be on other city-owned and/or controlled sites in the area.
To restate: Tribble Park will no longer be considered as a potential site of the future community recreation and leisure facility in Windsor Forest.
In our discussions, Alderman Purtee also brought forth the idea of creating a community advisory committee to help guide our decision making. I couldn’t agree more with this approach, as this is a process I have used before in previous communities, and one that has been successful in other City of Savannah projects as well. The makeup of this community advisory committee will be resident representatives of local neighborhood associations and groups, Alderman Purtee, and City staff. Together, the Community Advisory Committee will help steer this project toward a successful location and completion.
We look forward to forming the committee soon with our neighborhood partners and getting to work together.
This article appears in Connect Savannah I Best of Savannah.
