(SAVANNAH) Construction is in its final throes, as the employees of Park Place Outreach, formerly known as the Savannah Runaway Home, are preparing for the transition to their new work place.
This coming February, their new facility will be complete. To date, they have raised more than 80% of their $1.7 million goal, thanks to a number of different organizations. Park Place Outreach has received funds from the City of Savannah, the Chatham County Commission and several important gifts came from philanthropic individuals in the community. In addition, many local companies have donated in-kind services and materials for the construction of the facility totaling more than $80,000.
The exterior is just about complete with the grounds set for landscaping. As for the inside, design work was completed by SCAD this past summer. The students had to do their job according to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards. LEED is a national standard for developing high performance sustainable buildings and is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council. The certification means the new building will have met the standards set by the USGBC, which consist of sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy & atmosphere, materials & resources, and indoor environmental quality.
Because of the strict standards, the SCAD students had to make sure they used products that were all environmentally friendly. The woodwork, furniture, fixtures, paint and floors are all LEED certified.
The new building has been a long time coming. The current Park Place home is in a historic building 100+ years old. Although aesthetically pleasing, it just isn’t big enough to accommodate the organization’s growing needs. The new shelter will provide separate bedrooms and bathrooms for males and females. In addition there are common areas for study, recreation and meals. The counseling services of the programs will be conducted in private offices and a separate Outreach Center will be completed in the basement for drop-in visits by teens seeking a safe haven.
In an effort to meet Park Place’s $1.7 million goal for the building budget, the community is invited to participate in the success of the first capital campaign by making a tax-deductible gift to: Park Place Outreach. Your check may be mailed to Park Place Outreach 11 W. Park Place, Savannah, GA 34101, Please write capital campaign on the “memo” line. In addition, community members are invited to help finish the new shelter by participating in one of the House Warming Showers.
Park Place Outreach provides emergency shelter and street outreach for adolescents ages 11 through 17 and their families. It is the only agency located within Chatham County that serves youth at no charge who are accepted without a referral to receive help. Park Place Outreach opened in 1984. There are approximately 15-30 youth residents served each month and about 200 each year. For more information on Park Place, call (912) 234-4048.