Savannah invests $5.5M in new Eastside community gym

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The City of Savannah has broken ground on a new $5.5 million gymnasium at the Pennsylvania Avenue Resource Center, expanding recreational opportunities for residents on the city’s eastside.

City leaders, community members and project partners gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the new Eastside Gym at PARC, which will add an 11,300-square-foot facility to the existing community center.

The expansion will include a full gymnasium, unisex locker rooms, men’s and women’s restrooms, a lobby, snack bar, community spaces and additional parking.

Mayor Van R. Johnson II said the project reflects the city’s commitment to providing equal access to quality facilities across Savannah.

“We continue our march toward equity across the city, ensuring every resident has access to high-quality city facilities and opportunities close to home,” Johnson said. “This investment is about more than a building. It’s about creating opportunities for our youth, strengthening families and investing in every neighborhood.”

The new gym will be built adjacent to the Pennsylvania Avenue Resource Center (PARC), an 18,960-square-foot community center that opened in 2019.

District 3 Alderwoman Linda Wilder-Bryan said the facility fulfills a long-standing need voiced by East Savannah residents.

“Our residents have consistently shared the need for a dedicated space where the community can come together,” Wilder-Bryan said. “The Eastside Gym at PARC is about equity, opportunity and investing in a neighborhood that deserves the very best.”

Construction began in June, and city officials expect the new gym to open in 2027.