Port Wentworth to break ground on 18-000-square-foot fire station, first phase of park

Before the City of Port Wentworth begins development of a 150-acre park that will contain multi-purpose courts and fields, an amphitheater and the future home of the Savannah Ghost Pirates training facility, it will break ground on the fire station that will sit at its entrance.

The new 18,000-square-foot facility on Highway 30 will become the headquarters for the city. The other two pre-existing stations are located on the east side of Highway 95. The groundbreaking will be on Friday, April 12.

Port Wentworth has experienced rapid growth in the last two decades, becoming one of the fastest growing cities in the region with about 13,000 residents and growing.

"We haven't had a new station in almost 15 years, and we desperately need another one. It's going to be critical for the response times," said City Manager Steve Davis. "Honestly, we'll eventually have a fourth one as well."

New fire station part of strategic service delivery

In a previous interview Port Wentworth Fire Chief Lance Moore said that the fire department's call volume statistically increases 10% per year, and to keep up with that demand they needed more strategically placed stations. Once complete, this station will be able to help with the response times for the north end of the city.

The fire station will contain a training classroom that will also serve as the emergency operations center, according to a press release. It will have four bays in comparison to two for the other fire stations, living quarters, two engines and an ambulance.

"It's really a great moment for the city. The fire station is where our major residential nodes are so the location is perfect, plus it's adjacent to our parks," Davis said. "So, we're super-excited about it; it's going to be a great addition to our public safety needs."

The first phase of the park will be built out in conjunction with the construction of the fire station, which should be complete by April or May 2025, according to Davis. The first phase includes the center of the park ― parking, the soccer and football fields and ice hockey training facility, which the Savannah Ghost Pirates organization plans to break ground on sometime in May.

In January, Port Wentworth approved the development agreement with the Savannah Ghost Pirates for the $25 million, 90,000-square-foot facility in the recreation complex. Savannah Morning News previously reported that construction is expected to be complete by summer 2025.

Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for Chatham County municipalities for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach her at dambus@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Port Wentworth to break ground on 18,000-square-foot fire station