SAVANNAH, Ga. () — For decades, families in Savannah’s Historic Carver Village have grown up without a community gym. While some progress is in the works, residents and community leaders are still pushing to make a gym a reality.

County leaders say SPLOST funding is in place and designs are underway, but construction still needs City Council approval.

The historic neighborhood is located west of downtown Savannah. It was established in 1948 to provide affordable housing for working-class African Americans.

Chatham County Commission Chairman Chester Ellis said a Carver Village committee called the Community Action Group first raised the request for a gym before City Council in the 1960s.

“And, well, you know, that never happened,” Ellis said.

From that point on, Ellis said, the fight never stopped.

For Gary Crawford, who grew up in Carver Village and runs the Carver Village Stallions athletic program, the need is personal. More than 100 children take part in football, basketball, baseball, cheerleading and more.

“A lot of coaches spend their personal money to rent gyms,” Crawford said. “The city, they provide you a gym from time to time. But at the end of the day, we were on that park.”

Crawford said the lack of indoor space has become urgent.

“We are experiencing some extreme weather patterns here lately and due to that, there are times we can’t even come outside,” he said. “This past summer we were out there. There were days we had to cancel practice because of the heat.”

Ellis said SPLOST 7 funding is in place for two gymnasiums. One site was originally planned off Abercorn Street, but Ellis asked commissioners to also approve one in Carver Village.

“The city owned the property,” Ellis said. “The county had the money to build the gym. So, the collaboration between the city and the county gets the gym up. We’re just waiting now until it goes before City Council to agree to the intergovernmental agreement. Once they agree to the intergovernmental agreement, then the county will start to put out the request for proposal to build a gymnasium.”

Ellis said the gym would connect to the Historic Carver Village Community Center. He said the gym is meant for everyone – from children in sports programs to older residents who want a safe place to stay active.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said he supports more recreational facilities citywide but added that other neighborhoods also lack resources.

“Carver Village ten years ago, said they wanted to expand their community, we delivered that through SPLOST,” Johnson said. “I say if they have a gym and they have someone who’s going to buy that gym, county wants to fund that gym with their unused SPLOST money, then make us a proposal and give us the money. We will build the gym, and we will operate the gym.”

The proposal must go before City Council before construction can begin.

“This whole project, if it is done, we are talking generations will now be enjoying what we have in this community,” Crawford said.