Forsyth Park
| Forsyth Park | |
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Forsyth fountain in Forsyth Park
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| Type | Public park |
| Location | Savannah, Georgia |
| Area | 30 acres (0.12 km2) |
| Created | 1840s |
| Operated by | City of Savannah |
| Open | All year |
Forsyth Park is a large city park that occupies 30 acres (0.12 km2) in the historic district of Savannah, Georgia. The park is bordered by Gaston Street on the North, Drayton Street on the East, Park Avenue on the South and Whitaker Street on the West. It contains walking paths, a café, a children's play area, a Fragrant Garden for the blind, a large fountain, tennis courts, basketball courts, areas for soccer and Frisbee, and home field for Savannah Shamrocks Rugby Club. From time to time, there are concerts held at Forsyth to the benefit of the public.
The park was originally created in the 1840s on 10 acres (0.04 km2) of land donated by William Hodgson. In 1851, the park was expanded and named for Georgia Governor John Forsyth. By 1853, all original planned wards of Savannah were occupied and a large public park was added to the extreme south end of the city plan. This park was anticipated by General James Oglethorpe's plan and was made possible by a donation of 20 acres (81,000 m2) of land owned by Forsyth.
Standing in the middle of Forsyth Park with the pathway wrapping around it lies the Confederate Memorial Statue. This work of art was donated by the Monroe County Courthouse to commemorate those volunteers who gave their lives fighting for the Confederacy. The memorial is surrounded by a fence to protect it from vandalism.
The fountain at the north end of the park was added in 1858 and is reminiscent of fountains in the Place de la Concorde in Paris and in Cuzco, Peru. At this time, Parisian urban planning was centered on the development of residential neighborhoods radiating out from a central green space. The Parisian model of developing large city parks was emulated by large cities in the United States, with even smaller cities, such as Savannah, asserting their own cosmopolitan image.
Every St. Patrick's Day the fountain is ceremoniously turned green in celebration of Savannah's deep Irish heritage.
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Wikipedia