An eager band of Rotarians and city workers will transform a once-neglected parking area into a downtown Athens pocket park on Saturday.

The city-owned property, located just north of Compass Bank on Green Street and next to the old W. E. Estes & Son cotton warehouse, will be named Pecan Park in honor of the old tree that stands in its midst. The tree is believed to be about 100 years old. 

Beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, members of the Athens Rotary Club and the city of Athens will landscape the area with shrubs and trees. The park already has a new gazebo and sod.

A portion of the old cotton warehouse will someday become Athens’ artists’ incubator.