THE COBB LIFE COBB’S: DOWNTOWN DESTINATIONS

There are a number of distinct cities and communities whose unique offerings make Cobb the vibrant county it is today. And in the heart of each of these communities are downtown sweet spots that offer local charms, hangouts, shops, dining and more. While Marietta and Kennesaw’s historic downtown districts often draw the most local and tourist attention, Smyrna, Powder Springs and Acworth have all recently added to their already deep offerings. Read on for some of each community’s recent additions.

The invigoration and transformation of Powder Springs’ downtown has been a strong focus for several years, as both public and private development is expected to be completed or continued in 2022. A new city hall complex is expected to start construction this year, alongside nearly 5,000 sq. ft. of commercial space for retail, restaurant spaces, and 220+ apartments. The city is also partnering with California Skateparks to design and build a new 20,000 sq. ft. competition skatepark. With these new additions, and the previous year’s opening of Thurman Springs Park and its Hardy Family Automotive Amphitheater, Powder Springs has prepared a full slate of community-wide events for 2022 and beyond. Visit www.cityofpowdersprings.org for more information.

Visiting Smyrna, you’ll notice the bright yellow blooms of the jonquil, the city’s namesake, alongside the numerous shops and recreational offerings. The city has launched an exciting transformation of Smyrna Market Village, an active downtown center with retail stores, restaurants, residences, two parks, a community center, city hall, and nearby neighbor¬hoods. The plan includes an interactive green space, a parking facility, and a Stillfire Brewing location. Nearby, Contender Esports at Cumberland Crossing provides a home for the gaming community by offering equipment and structure for leagues, tournaments, youth academies, and more.

The centerpiece of the city is the Smyrna Market Village, an active downtown center with retail offerings, restaurants, residences, two parks, a community center, city hall, and nearby neighborhoods. New this year, Contender Esports at Cumberland Crossing provides a home for the gaming community by offering equipment and structure for leagues, tournaments, youth academies, and more. Earlier this year, Smyrna unveiled its newest quality of life addition at Jonquil Park, a modern, open-air wellness center “Fitness Court” with a supporting mobile app. Learn more at www.smyrnaga.gov.

Known as the Lake City, Acworth has spent recent years focused on transforming, revitalizing, and expanding its historic downtown. Today, visitors and citizens alike enjoy the new Parkside District, which includes 120acre Logan Farm Park and the Acworth Community Center. On the edge of the park at Taylor and Cherokee streets is The Art House, home to a growing community for local artists, offering exhibits and classes. Visit www.acworth.org to stay up to date as new projects come online.