The fact that Savannah, TN has only 7,000 residents did not deter the city from creating the world class Tennessee Street Park in the geographic heart of the city. In May 2014, the new, six-acre park officially opened after four years of planning, development, demolition, and building work.

Assistant City Manager C. Seth Sumner called the park “the most ambitious project the city has ever undertaken; and it is a promise to citizens and visitors of what to expect for future projects.” The resources required to take on the large-scale project were incredible; many of the city’s operations had to be altered during the process. “We are especially proud of the growth in citizen input that came throughout the course of the project, stated Sumner.”

The park has already won a number of awards including the 2014 John S. Wilder Rebuild Tennessee Award from the SW Tennessee Development District as well as awards from the Society of Landscape Architects, and the Tennessee City Management Association. The park was funded using a creative combination of grants, generous donations, reserve funds and a loan resulting from a utility refinancing project that allowed the park to attain a low-fixed rate for debt service. Revenues to support the park staff and the debt service will come from Savanah’s River Resort District funds.

Here are some other park highlights:

• The city acquired the site of an abandoned elementary school. The park incorporates components of the elementary school fa√ßade and entry ways into commemorative park displays.
• Wireless security cameras are installed in the park with all images microwaved to City Hall and also to a secure mobile application.
• The park is the final stop on the Historic Walking Tour featuring Savannah’s historic homes
• The park’s two playgrounds—one for ages 5 and under and one for 6-12—are ADA accessible with diverse equipment and the latest in rubberized materials. There are two splash pads as well.
• Residents can take a peaceful stroll or get a cardio work out along the paved walking trail with many connecting options.
• A gazebo, a 17-foot cast iron fountain, and brick columned and wrought iron fence add architectural interest to the park.
• Horticulturists appreciate the 10,000 plants of over 30 varieties throughout the park and in the butterfly garden .
• The city built the two large event pavilions and an operations building with sustainability and ADA compliance in mind, such as solar-powered compacting trash containers.

Meet the Manager

C. Seth Sumner

Assistant City Manager

C. Seth Sumner is the Assistant City Manager of Savannah, Tennessee. He received his BA (2005) in Political Science and MPA (2009) from the University of Tennessee and completed the University of Virginia's Senior Executive Institute in 2012. Seth became the then youngest City Manager in Tennessee when hired at Clifton, where he served over two years. He serves on the TCMA's Board of Directors, is a former adjunct professor of political science, was an author on the Tennessee Municipal Benchmarking Project 2009, and obtained his CMFO in January of 2012. Sumner was a member of the Leadership-ICMA Class of 2013, and presented at the 2012 and 2013 ICMA Conferences. With wife Katie, he has 2-year old twins, Georgia and Carl Mason.