SAVANNAH, Ga. () — One of Savannah’s most iconic landmarks is getting a much-needed facelift this summer. The Forsyth Park fountain is being fully removed for restoration – the first major work of its kind since 1988.

However, some residents are concerned about what will happen to the personalized bricks surrounding the fountain that many paid for decades ago.

The city is preparing to fully disassemble and restore the historic centerpiece but it’s not just the fountain that’s drawing attention. A question that looms behind for a handful of residents: what about the signature bricks?

The city confirmed with that while the fountain is being removed for off-site restoration, the bricks will be preserved in place and simply repointed. This means that the mortar between them will be refreshed to maintain stability.

These special bricks were originally sold in 1988 by a volunteer group called “Signatures of Savannah” to help fund a previous restoration. At $50 each, many families invested in these bricks to leave a lasting legacy.

One resident wrote in to asking, “Can we get them back if they’re going to tear up the fountain? My whole family has one each.” Now the city is reassuring the public in a statement sharing:

“The Forsyth fountain signature bricks will remain in place and be preserved during the restoration project. The brick area within the railing will be repointed. The signature bricks were sold by a volunteer committee named Signatures of Savannah (S.O.S.) in 1988. The committee was formed by then-chair of the Savannah Park and Tree Commission Mary Helen Ray to help fund a restoration of the fountain. The group raised over $80,000, which the city matched dollar for dollar, for the 1988 restoration project.”

So again, there are no plans to remove or discard the bricks. The fountain restoration budget is expected to cost around $650,000. The fountain is to be fully removed this month and is expected to return by early fall.