Residents gathered on the evening of Tuesday June 23, to celebrate the opening of the new Krog Pocket Park, transforming a once-neglected corner into a public space designed for rest, art and community connection.
The park, located at the entrance to Cabbagetown near the Krog Street Tunnel, was created through a partnership between the Cabbagetown Initiative, District 5 Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari’s office, Soules Landscaping, local artists and neighborhood volunteers. The project transformed what organizers described as a “dust bowl” into a shaded gathering place that connects pedestrians and cyclists to Carroll Street businesses and the neighborhood’s public art.
“This is a little parklet,” Executive Director of The Cabbagetown Initiative John Dirga said. “However you got here, running, walking, rolling, riding, we built this for you to take a rest from that and enjoy the shade and a little bit of Cabbagetown magic.” He described the space as “a special place of rest” where people can pause before continuing along the Beltline.
Dirga said the park also strengthens connections between the neighborhood’s sidewalks, murals and locally owned businesses.
“We didn’t do placemaking here. This is part of placekeeping,” he said. “There’s real places where real people go, and this connects them.”
Artist Peter Ferrari, whose new mural anchors the park, reflected on Cabbagetown’s role in his career and the neighborhood’s longstanding commitment to public art.
“It’s been really an incubator for me as an artist and a curator,” Ferrari said. “There’s something about Cabbagetown and the support for public art that exists here that is just completely novel and unique.”
Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari said their office awarded a $60,000 community grant to the Cabbagetown Initiative to create the park, allowing neighborhood leaders to transform the space into a welcoming gathering place.
“This is one of the most community-driven neighborhoods in the city,” Bakhtiari said. “If you’re lucky enough to move here, please continue to honor that tradition. Get to know your neighbors that are here long before us, and make sure you never forget the story of how Cabbagetown started.”
Long known for its murals and historic mill village, Cabbagetown has become one of Atlanta’s most recognizable arts districts. Speakers said the new pocket park builds on that legacy by creating another public space where residents and visitors can gather, rest and experience neighborhood art while supporting nearby small businesses.
