On April 15th, the City of Statesboro Youth Council celebrated the grand opening of its newly completed Chess Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event drew members of the Statesboro City Council and community, eager to learn about the creative transformation of an unused greenspace.
The idea for the Chess Park originated in May 2024, when the Youth Council applied for a “Placemaking” grant from Georgia City Solutions. In their application, the council highlighted areas along the Willie McTell Trail in Downtown Statesboro in need of enhancement. Their vision included trail repairs and maintenance, as well as the creation of a life-size chess park, strategically located across from the Downtown Dog Park.
The realization of the Chess Park, along with other trail improvements, was made possible through collaboration with the City of Statesboro Public Works Department. Teaming up with the Youth Council, the department helped install the life-size chessboard and flower planters at the park and replace benches along the trail.
The Chess Park represents just the beginning of the Youth Council’s ambitions for enhancing the Willie McTell Trail. With this project’s success, the council is eager to continue making meaningful improvements that enrich the community.
Georgia City Solutions awarded the Youth Council a $500 grant for the initiative. The project gained additional momentum through matching donations from Grice Connect and the City of Statesboro. Contributions from community partners played a key role: the Statesboro Police Department provided a water fountain, while the Statesboro Regional Library donated chess pieces for the picnic table.
The lifesize chess pieces are located in a locked storage shed at the park when not in use. To check out the lifesize chess pieces or small pieces for picnic table:
1. Visit the Statesboro-Bulloch County Library- just a short walk down the trail at 124 South Main Street, Statesboro.
2. Present your library card or sign up for one. It only takes a few minutes to sign up.
3. The library will provide you with a key to unlock this storage unit to access the pieces.
4. Return pieces to storage unit when finished playing, lock, and check key back in at the library.
