City: Savannah, GA

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (912) 351-3841

Address: 1301 East Victory Dr.

Description: When Savannah’s Park and Tree Commission members conceived plans for Daffin Park in 1908, the recreational area was on the outskirts of the city. Now, Daffin is in the middle of Midtown, and it’s a magnificent place for residents to stroll and enjoy the outdoors; it’s shady and covered with giant live oaks, and there’s a well-kept lake and plenty of benches. The park, which is maintained by the city of Savannah’s Leisure Services Bureau, covers 77 acres bounded by Victory Drive, Waters Avenue, Washington Avenue, and Bee Road. Opportunities for enjoying the outdoors in a residential setting abound at Daffin, which has a large playground; grassy fields that accommodate softball, baseball, football, soccer, rugby, and, on occasion, cricket; basketball courts; nine tennis courts; a pool; a four-acre lake where you can fish for bass, bream, and catfish; and a pavilion on the lake that can be reserved for $125 per day for a variety of gatherings. Call (912) 351-3837 for reservations. The eastern portion of the park is the site of Grayson Stadium, home of the city’s minor-league baseball team, and a picnic area shaded by towering pine trees. The playing fields on the southern side of the park—once the site of polo matches and a landing strip for airplanes before the city built its first airport in 1929—are also fine for flying kites, driving golf balls, and exercising Rover, when the fields are not otherwise occupied. If you’re into walking or jogging, you’ll find room to roam on the 8-foot-wide, 1.5-mile-long sidewalk surrounding the park. For a shorter jaunt, try the lighted sidewalk around Daffin Lake, which is a third of a mile long. A note: For safety reasons, don’t walk the park at night, especially alone.