Savannah’s Tide to Town is an ambitious urban trail system aiming to revolutionize the way residents and visitors experience the city of Savannah and Chatham County. The initiative, which is now seeing its first trails open to the public, promises over 30 miles of paved paths. These paths will not only connect key destinations, including schools, universities, hospitals, and neighborhoods, but they will also serve as a beacon for active transportation, healthier living, and community unity.
The project’s benefits are manifold: from fostering a healthier and more productive workforce to revitalizing neighborhoods, improving air and water quality, and boosting the local economy through increased retail visibility and a stronger tax base. Furthermore, Tide to Town aligns with a wider community desire for improved walking and biking infrastructure, as evidenced by various surveys conducted within the county. This initiative is more than a network of trails; it’s a movement aimed at uniting the community through health, unity, and equity.
As Tide to Town grows, it seeks not only to enhance the physical landscape of Savannah and its surroundings but to also create a sustainable environment where every individual has access to safe, active transportation options. With the backing of organizations like the Friends of Tide To Town and support from grants like the REACH grant from the CDC, the project is a testament to what can be achieved when community health and wellbeing are placed at the heart of urban planning.
Tide to Town stands as a pioneering example of how cities can adapt to the needs of their residents, offering a model for others to follow in the quest for more livable, equitable, and environmentally friendly urban spaces.
