Savannah residents who venture southside soon will have more recreational opportunities available to them, their children and their four-legged friends.
The city of Savannah by August hopes to award a contract for the estimated $4 million renovation of the Coffee Bluff Marina, the city’s only public boating complex. Upgrades will include a new boat hoist, fishing pier, docks and a combination bait shop and meeting center. A playground area also is planned.
Work would begin by Labor Day, with construction estimated for completion by fall 2013.
Coming to Tribble
Another upgrade is being planned in Windsor Forest’s Tribble Park. The city is planning to build a second dog park at one edge of the scenic park, which includes a stocked lake surrounded by a six-tenths of a mile walking path. It’s on Largo Drive, south of Windsor Road.
That project, estimated at $300,000, could happen as soon as next year.
Both projects are within Alderman Tony Thomas’ district, and they are projects he has championed. The city opened Tribble Park in 2007 and bought the marina in 2008. Before that, there weren’t park facilities of any size south of Montgomery Crossroad.
“There really was very little other than neighborhood parks,” he said. “With the marina and the Tribble Park enhancements, this is really the city’s first stance in creating substantial additions to the city’s park system, and they will help meet the recreational needs of our citizens.”
Sithara Thukalan equated the changes in simpler terms.
“That would be so great. Seriously,” she said.
A southside resident, she regularly walks her Chihuahua mix, Rafiki, but would rather avoid mixing with traffic on the streets.
“Walking him is a safety hazard because he’s so small,” she said. “I’ve taken him to the dog park at Daffin Park, but I don’t like the drive.”
The city opened the Herty Pines dog park earlier this year, the first the city has operated. Like that park, Tribble’s would have separate play areas for large and small dogs.
Cynthia Harden spent Wednesday morning quietly fishing along Tribble’s lake. Though she’s caught a 2½-pound bass there, not much was biting on her latest try.
She didn’t mind.
“On my off days I come out, just to get away,” she said. “Listen to how quiet it is. It’s relaxing.”
Total destruction
At Coffee Bluff Marina, the fishing has slowed, even though the waters are full of trout, flounder, red fish and triple tail, said Ray Golden, who operates the bait shop under contract with the city.
One problem is the out-of-commission boat hoist has been deemed too unsafe to operate. That has cut into use, as has word of the renovations, Golden said.
The marina’s dock and bait shop will remain open at least through August.
City officials, citing their contract with Golden, have compensated his company by more than $14,400 for loss of use of the hoist.
Because renovation will require demolition of the bait shop and the docks, the city also is asking council to authorize paying Golden’s company about $100,000 for loss of use.
That estimate, said Joe Shearouse, director of the city’s public facilities bureau, was based on last year’s receipts, minus the rent Golden pays, which is $24,000 a year.
Council is scheduled to vote today on the payment agreement.
“Once the contract is awarded and they start work, his buildings are going to be torn down,” Shearouse said. “And his income will be zero.”
The city has compensated an operator at least once before, Shearouse said. Most recently that was when damaged nets had to be replaced on the driving range at the Bacon Park Golf Course.