A small, overlooked space in the heart of downtown Occoquan now gives residents and visitors a new reason to linger.
For years, a former pump house at 172 Mill Street served primarily as storage for the Town of Occoquan. The Town recognized the potential to transform the highly visible, underused building near the entrance to the historic commercial district into a welcoming community space.
The Town dedicated the approximately 500-square-foot Mural Garden in June 2026. Today, visitors can sit, enjoy public art, and experience downtown from a new perspective. The transformation included pump house repairs, new landscaping, a paver patio, benches, and a four-sided mural by Virginia artist Tyler Kauffman. Residents and visitors now gather there to snap photos while exploring Occoquan’s shops, restaurants, and events.
“It’s been suggested that one sign of a society’s decline is a retreat from respect for the arts, so we’re especially delighted to be expanding our public art spaces in the town of Occoquan and grateful for the artists who are willing to share their talents with us.”
– Mayor Earnest W. Porta Jr., Town of Occoquan
The Town leveraged Public Works staff to address building maintenance issues and secured a $15,000 Virginia Main Street Community Vitality Grant to support the mural and pocket-park improvements. Visit Occoquan helped promote the project and supported the community-informed muralist selection process, which drew more than 20 submissions.
The Mural Garden demonstrates how Main Street communities can leverage modest investments, existing resources, and community partnerships to address long-standing challenges and strengthen the downtown experience. In Occoquan, a once-overlooked space now adds beauty, activity, and another reason to explore the commercial district.
Photo credit: Town of Occoquan & Blaire Buergler
