Tybee Island now one step closer to Memorial Park revitalization

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - Tybee Island leaders say they’re closer to coming up with a plan to revitalize Memorial Park and its aging facilities.

“We’ve been talking about what to do with Memorial Park for years and haven’t made really any progress,” said Tybee Island City Manager, Bret Bell.

That’s all starting to change.

Earlier this year, the city brought in Urban Land Institute, a network of real estate and land use experts, which recently made its recommendations on what the city can do to improve Memorial Park.

The 40-page report on recommendations for the park’s future, laid out observations on what the city can do to use the space to the best of its ability.

“Development of a new fire station is their number one priority,” said Bell.

Tybee Island’s Fire Station currently sits in a residential area.

The building is old and not up to standards for a full-time fire department.

While that’s the biggest priority for the city, another big topic on the island that wasn’t discussed much by ULI, was finding a home for the island’s only school, Tybee Island Maritime Academy.

“A big potential use of the park is the school. In the end they decided to really not have an opinion on TIMA, whether or not it should be located in Memorial Park,” said Bell.

Tybee’s city manager says the fate of the school moving into Memorial Park will need to come from city council.

Now, the city needs to conduct an island-wide assessment, examining the condition of island property and determining the needs for exact capital improvements.

Before the island can move forward with a plan, city council will need to make a decision on finding room for TIMA in Memorial Park.

“Because it’s going to drive a lot of other decisions that come after it,” said Bell.