Empty Lot in Downtown Palmetto to Become Community Pocket Park

The 10th Ave Grove will feature green space, seating areas and art in the historic downtown area.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:26pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a park bench repeated in a grid pattern, representing the new community space being created in downtown Palmetto.The new 10th Ave Grove community park aims to bring more visitors and economic activity to Palmetto's historic downtown district.Palmetto Today

An empty lot in historic downtown Palmetto, Florida will be transformed into a temporary community park called the 10th Ave Grove. The pocket park is part of Palmetto Downtown Main Street's initiative to bring the community together and revitalize the downtown area. The project will cost around $10,000 and is expected to launch in the next 30-60 days.

Why it matters

The new community park aims to increase foot traffic and support local businesses in Palmetto's historic downtown district, which has struggled with declining enrollment and economic challenges in recent years.

The details

The 10th Ave Grove will feature green space, music, seating areas and art. The project is being led by Palmetto Downtown Main Street, a local non-profit focused on revitalizing the downtown area. The organization is seeking community volunteers to help with the transformation of the empty lot into the new public space.

  • The 10th Ave Grove project is expected to launch in the next 30-60 days.

The players

Karon Dixon

The executive director of Palmetto Downtown Main Street, the organization leading the 10th Ave Grove project.

Lillian Gleitsman

An employee at D's, a restaurant in downtown Palmetto, who supports the new community park project.

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What they’re saying

“Looking at trying to help revitalize, helping with walkability, bringing people into the downtown and really giving people a sense to kind of wanna come in and stay and not only that but also to frequent our downtown businesses as well.”

— Karon Dixon, Executive Director, Palmetto Downtown Main Street

“It will bring in a lot more people for us and a lot more people would be fed and have a good time enjoying the park. They can come over, have a bite and go right back.”

— Lillian Gleitsman, Restaurant Employee, D's

What’s next

The 10th Ave Grove project is expected to launch in the next 30-60 days, with community volunteers needed to help transform the empty lot into the new public space.

The takeaway

The creation of the 10th Ave Grove community park represents a grassroots effort by Palmetto's downtown businesses and residents to revitalize the historic district and bring more foot traffic and economic activity to the area.