President's Message - March 31, 2025

From the President:

Save the Date—Annual Picnic

On May 20, we will again hold our annual picnic at the Collins Quarter Café at Forsyth Park. Mark your calendars; more information will be coming soon.

At the picnic, we will be honoring our 2024 grantees—local organizations that enhance the downtown community and its way of life. The funds for the grants were raised through the DNA’s Holiday Tour of Homes and Inns held in December 2024. 

Resident Awards

Also during the annual picnic, we will recognize residents who make outstanding contributions in three categories: public service to the community, volunteerism at its highest level, and beautification of our neighborhood.

Nominations are made by the membership for these awards, and the DNA Board of Directors is looking for your suggestions for this year’s nominations.

For examples of what the nominations should include, see the descriptions from last year’s recipients here under Resident Awards. Please submit your nominations to info@savannahdna.org by April 15.

Forsyth Park

As we have discussed in the past, the City of Savannah and Friends of Forsyth Park (Friends) have agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding on how the Friends can support the City in maintaining and improving the park.  You can find additional information and a resident’s survey here.  We encourage everyone to review the information and complete the survey.

Train Survey—Connection between Savannah and Atlanta

Recently, the Savannah Morning News published an article detailing how the Georgia Department of Transportation was conducting a survey and study to connect Savannah to Atlanta via rail.  You can read the article here if you missed it.  You can find the link to the survey and additional information here.

Federal Courthouse 

Last week members of the Board met with the Project Manager for the renovation of the Tomochichi Federal Courthouse at Wright Square.  As part of the continued work, Whitaker St will be closed during the day until 5 PM.  There will be one lane open after 5 PM. The street will reopen fully on April 11.

The courthouse project is fully funded and scheduled to be completed in Summer of 2026.  You may have noticed that all the scaffolding has been removed, and W York St has been fully reopened.

David McDonald

President

Downtown Neighborhood Association Savannah, GA Inc.