In the hills of southern Georgia, in the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, Akhaltsikhe has always lived between past and present. Its name means “new fortress,” a nod to its origins around an ancient citadel. For centuries, the city stood as a frontier stronghold and a meeting point of cultures. Today, it is steadily reshaping itself into a lively regional center that honors its history while looking firmly ahead.
High above the old town rises Rabati Castle, first built in the 9th century. Carefully restored in recent years, the castle has become more than a historic monument: it is now a symbol of the city’s revival.
Once-quiet ruins have turned into a vibrant cultural complex that draws visitors from across Georgia and beyond, bringing new energy to local businesses and tourism.
Now, that spirit of renewal is expanding beyond the fortress walls.
On January 20, the Municipal Development Fund of Georgia (MDF) signed a GEL 413,000 contract with Architectural Workshop Ltd. to design a full redevelopment of Akhaltsikhe’s Central Park. The 3.4-hectare green space has long been part of everyday life in the city, and five companies competed for the chance to reimagine it: a sign of strong professional interest in shaping Akhaltsikhe’s next chapter.
Plans include children’s playgrounds, sports and fitness zones, open courts, and spaces for cultural and educational activities
The goal is simple but ambitious: to turn Akhaltsikhe’s Central Park into a place that feels alive all day and all year. Plans include children’s playgrounds, sports and fitness zones, open courts, and spaces for cultural and educational activities. New pedestrian and bicycle paths will make the park easier, and safer, to navigate, encouraging residents to move more freely between neighborhoods and nearby attractions.
The design also envisions welcoming public amenities: small pavilions for information and retail, an open-air stage for performances and community events, shaded pergolas, decorative fountains, and refreshed landscaping. Behind the scenes, modern upgrades such as improved lighting, water systems, CCTV, and other safety features are part of the package.
An MDF representative described the project as part of a broader effort to support balanced urban growth across Georgia’s regions. Well-designed public spaces, they emphasized, are not just aesthetic improvements: they help shape community life, attract visitors, and create new economic opportunities.
The design phase is expected to take six months. Once the plans are finalized, a separate construction tender will determine the full cost and timeline of the park’s transformation.
For Akhaltsikhe, this project feels like a natural continuation of a story already underway. After years of post-Soviet decline and relative isolation, investment in heritage restoration and tourism infrastructure has gradually restored the city’s confidence. The revival of Rabati Castle in the early 2010s marked a turning point, encouraging growth in hospitality, retail, and services.
The redevelopment of Akhaltsikhe’s Central Park suggests something deeper is happening. Cities beyond national capitals are increasingly investing in public spaces as engines of renewal; places where residents gather, businesses grow, and visitors feel welcome. In Akhaltsikhe, a renewed park may become more than a recreational space. It could serve as a shared living room for the city: one that reflects its rich past while making room for its future.
By Team GT
