© 2026 Atlanta Beltline, Inc. Photo by Erin Sintos
Situated between Grant Park and East Atlanta, Ormewood Park is often overshadowed by its larger neighbors. Named after Aquilla J. Orme (a 19th-century Atlanta Electric Light and Trolley Company official), the district came about in 1891 thanks to a trolley extension from downtown that connected to what were then Atlanta’s suburbs.
The community is about as residential as intown Atlanta comes, with single-family homes built in Victorian and Craftsman styles alongside a smattering of low-rise public housing. There’s one park, Red’s Farm Preserve, which Ormewood resident Brian “Farmer Red” Harrison maintained as an urban farm; after his death in 2022, the City of Atlanta turned it into a public park.
Ormewood Park’s history is similar to that of many Eastside Atlanta areas. After the integration of Atlanta Public Schools, White flight led to decades of disinvestment. But as Atlanta grew over the early 21st century, Ormewood Park appealed to newcomers with its affordability (home prices in 2000 averaged $185,000). Census data shows the neighborhood has grown considerably, from 3,500 residents in 1990 to more than 5,100 today.
Photograph by Rebecca Carmen
Why it’s hopping:
In April 2026, the Atlanta Beltline Southeast Trail, which borders the entire west side of Ormewood Park, finally opened to the public. It now links the neighborhood to 14 miles of continuous Beltline trail—and so the mania begins for Ormewood Park. The neighborhood is a prime candidate for increased density, and several areas are earmarked for development. One of the most notable is Trestletree Village South, a Section Eight housing community built in the 1940s. Developer Wingate Companies plans to revamp the property with help from Invest Atlanta, expanding it to more than 800 residential units with a percentage earmarked for affordable housing.
Several new eateries have opened in and around Ormewood Park in the last few years, such as Halidom Eatery food hall and OK Yaki on Moreland Avenue; on the Beltline, there’s Side Saddle Wine Saloon & Bar and its sister coffee shop, Finca to Filter. These newcomers join neighborhood staples like Morelli’s Gourmet Ice Cream in Ormewood Plaza.
Courtesy of Paul and Riki Bolster
Who calls it home:
When Paul and Riki Bolster moved to Ormewood Park 53 years ago, they were among the few families on the street with young children. “Many families left after integration, so we were really [some] of the only young people on our block,” Riki says. That’s changed in a big way: The neighborhood’s proximity to downtown Atlanta and the Beltline has attracted a wave of young professionals and families. “Today, we have our neighbors’ toddlers playing in our front yard, so it’s really a wonderful thing that’s happening around here,” Paul says.
Ormewood Park is also something of a progressive stronghold. Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock have both called the neighborhood home, and Democratic candidates often host local events in partnership with the community organization South Atlantans for Neighborhood Development, which serves Ormewood Park and six other southeast neighborhoods.
How the community gathers:
Each October, the neighborhood hosts its annual Ormewood Park Makers Festival; it’s a block party of live music, local arts and crafts, and food vendors.
“The ‘maker’ part of the name is unique, and it’s to let you know that we offer things here you can’t find at another local street festival,” says Nichole Palmietto, an Ormewood Park resident and the festival’s codirector. Organizers keep booth-rental costs low to make it accessible for locals to showcase their work. “Our goal is to be hyperlocal,” Palmietto says.
Now in its ninth year, the festival has grown concurrently with the neighborhood. The 2026 edition, Palmetto says, will include more new workshops, with artisans teaching everything from breadmaking to birdhouse building. The festival will also include a larger kids’ zone, an additional 20 booth spots, and more porch bands.
Courtesy of Ormewood Park Makers Festival
Courtesy of Ormewood Park Makers Festival
Courtesy of Ormewood Park Makers Festival
Ormewood Park Makers Festival
Date: Saturday, October 10
Cost: Free
Location: The intersection of Delaware and Woodland avenues
Good to know: With limited street parking, the best way to arrive is on foot, MARTA, or bike (there’s a complimentary bike valet on-site). You can access the festival via the new Atlanta Beltline Southeast Trail a couple blocks west.
Leave the Roads, Take Atlanta’s Trails
Atlanta’s network of walking and biking trails continues to expand all around the metro. Here are some notable greenways:
- Atlanta Beltline Southeast Trail: This new 2.5-mile stretch begins at Krog Street Tunnel and runs south through Ormewood Park and Boulevard Heights. It’s home to several restaurants such as Muchacho, Breaker Breaker, and Side Saddle.
- Path400 Buckhead expansion: The new Wieuca Road and Loridans Park Connector extends Path400 farther north with the goal of linking Buckhead to Sandy Springs.
- Proctor Creek Greenway: Built in 2018, this 2.4-mile trail starts at the Bankhead MARTA station and runs through Westside Park. The Path Foundation and the City of Atlanta have plans to stretch it north to access parks along the Chattahoochee River.
- Arabia Mountain Path: The southeast Atlanta trail travels more than 23 miles between Lithonia, Stonecrest Mall, and the Arabia Mountain Nature Center. Thanks to the 2021 Panola Mountain Greenway addition, the trail now goes to Panola Mountain State Park.
This article appears in our September 2026 issue.
