Three Savannah natives – runner Ahmad O’Neal, senior painter Keith Padgett and construction manager Colin Deering – have partnered to transform an overgrown lot at the intersection of Liberty City and Summerside into a new west‑side public park. The project, which includes a playground, a multi‑use pavilion and a six‑lane running track, is intended to provide much‑needed green space for a historically underserved area.
According to The Current GA, the trio discovered the parcel while O’Neal was visiting a friend and saw an opportunity to replace a small, underused park that “is not really having any purpose other than just fulfilling a quota.” Their vision is being shaped through Jumpstart Coastal Georgia, a nonprofit that mentors residents in community‑focused development.
Jumpstart, which originated in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood in 2015, now operates in 18 cities, including Savannah. The program offers a nine‑week course covering financial literacy and the fundamentals of small‑scale residential development. Laura Lane McKinnon, head of Jumpstart Coastal Georgia, explained that the training is designed for citizens who lack the knowledge, framework or resources to restore homes, add affordable housing, or create community amenities.
McKinnon emphasized that “real estate entrepreneurship has been exclusively for captains of industry and people with lots and lots of money,” and that the program seeks to democratize development so “everyone can have a stake in their neighborhood.” Co‑facilitator Brianna Paxton added that the education helps Savannahians move from feeling that development is happening to them, to being active participants in projects that benefit the community.
The proposed park sits on land that once bordered two important Black communities, Liberty City and Summerside, which were shaped during the Jim Crow era of redlining. Padgett, whose grandfather built a family home in Summerside, said reviving the spirit of those neighborhoods is a personal passion. “I’m passionate about Savannah. It’s all I know. It’s everything,” he told The Current GA.
Beyond the park, the Jumpstart cohort is addressing broader housing challenges. A Georgia Tech study released in March 2025 projected that Chatham County will need 17,626 additional housing units by 2030 to meet population growth, with half of households earning $66,000 or less, underscoring the need for affordable options.
While the park project is still in the planning stage, the participants are leveraging the knowledge and networks gained through Jumpstart to seek grants, city approvals and community support. The group’s collaboration reflects the nonprofit’s “doing well by doing good” philosophy, aiming to create a space that serves families, promotes health and honors the legacy of the surrounding neighborhoods.
What’s next: O’Neal, Padgett and Deering will continue working with Jumpstart Coastal Georgia to finalize design plans, apply for municipal funding and hold community outreach meetings as they move toward breaking ground on the new park.
Sources: thecurrentga.org
