This decision came directly from listening to our community. We heard consistent feedback around parking, space limitations, and the need for amenities that better support families spending time together. We chose to pause, partner closely with the City of Auburn, and explore what could be even better. What we found at Memorial Park is an opportunity to expand the original vision in meaningful ways: more on-site parking, well-designed restrooms including family facilities, a large connected picnic table pavilion for gathering, added distance from street traffic, and access to existing amenities like basketball courts and more. It’s a space that allows more room to play, more room to gather, and more room for this to truly belong to the whole community.

Yes, absolutely! The heart of Fortify Play hasn’t changed. The playground will still be built in its original location, exactly as planned. That space was intentionally chosen to increase access to play for kids who need it most, right where they are.

Memorial Park gives this vision room to fully come to life. It’s a space that’s already centered around families and community gathering. The Auburn Parks Department has made recent improvements with future amenities in mind—including a splash pad—so the foundation is already there. Just as importantly, it offers better parking, safer access, and more space for families to spread out, stay longer, and truly enjoy the experience. It allows us to build something that not only works, but works well for everyone.

This is a true community collaboration. Fortify Life is working alongside the City of Auburn, Auburn Parks Department, United Way of DeKalb County, the Community Foundation of DeKalb County, and the DeKalb Chamber Partnership to bring this vision to life. Each partner plays a unique role, but we’re all working toward the same goal: creating spaces that strengthen our community and serve families well.

This project is being built by the community, for the community—and there’s a place for you in it. You can give directly to the splash pad initiative through dedicated funds at Fortify Life, United Way of DeKalb County and the Community Foundation of DeKalb County. These trusted partners ensure that every gift is stewarded well and moves this project forward. Whether it’s a large gift or a small one, every contribution helps.

At its core, this is about creating spaces where kids can laugh freely, where families can gather without barriers, and where community happens naturally. Many of our families travel to outside counties to enjoy splash pads in the hot summer months. We believe this project will shape how people experience where they live in a positive way.

Our goal is to open by Summer 2026. It’s an ambitious timeline, but it reflects both the readiness of Memorial Park and the momentum behind this project. Reaching that goal will take continued partnership, support, and community investment, but we believe it’s possible, and we’re moving toward it together.

Because both spaces serve different, important purposes. Memorial Park allows us to create a large, centralized amenity like the splash pad that can serve the entire county. The west side of Auburn has fewer park amenities, and it’s important to us that all of our young neighbors have access to high-quality, walkable places to play close to home. Our goal isn’t to shift everything to one location but to thoughtfully grow access so more families, in more neighborhoods, can experience spaces designed for connection, play, and time together.

This project is powered by a true grassroots effort—made possible by individuals like you who believe in creating vibrant spaces for families and kids to gather and play. It’s also supported by local businesses that are stepping up to sponsor key features and elements of the project.

Fortify Play’s splash pad will be maintained by the Auburn Parks Department with the costs of water covered by the City of Auburn.