Have you ever heard of a pocket park? If you guessed it’s a small park, you’re correct.
Nestled off of East 38th Street in North Central Austin, you’ll find Sparky Pocket Park. If you blink, you just might miss it while driving down the street. Here’s what you can expect while exploring this unique little park.
Small outdoor spaces — typically “only a few house lots in size or smaller” — like these are often tucked away in a community, and can be great spots to get fresh air during a lunch break or a nice place to relax with friends or family.
What was the spark that led to Sparky Pocket Park’s name? The park is located on a lot that was once home to a working electrical substation, dating back to 1930. The substation has now been renovated into a creative space.
The park was rededicated as a public park in 2009, and the City of Austin’s Art in Public Spaces initiative commissioned artist Berthold Haas to create the eccentric, yet magical-looking Grotto Wall you see today.
Along with help from the community, Haas created the wall using an eclectic list of things — including stones, mirror balls, glass, broken antique dishes, shells, wood, marbles, and even repurposed ceramic disk insulators.
If you look closely, you’ll see hidden gems placed in the cracks of the wall, such as a mini Peter Pan figurine and handwritten notes.
There are a couple of benches at the park where you can sit and take in nature + a small field behind the substation. There is no designated parking for the park, so try going early on a weekday morning to find parking along the street.
Sparky Park is located at 3701 Grooms St. Have a favorite pocket park in Austin? Let us know. We would love to explore the little hidden gem.
