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Centennial Olympic Park

Centennial Olympic Park
Centennial Olympic Park.svg
Centennial Olympic Park logo
Type Public Park
Location Atlanta, Georgia
Area 21 acres (85,000 m2)
Created 1996 (1996)
Operated by Georgia World Congress Center Authority
Open Daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. including holidays, unless otherwise specified for a private event.
Status Open all year
Website www.gwcca.org/park

Centennial Olympic Park is a 21-acre (85,000 m2) public park located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia owned and operated by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority. It was built by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) as part of the infrastructure improvements for the 1996 Summer Olympics. It plays host to millions of visitors a year and several events, including a summer popular music concert series (Wednesday WindDown) and an annual Independence Day concert and fireworks display.

The park property was previously a variety of vacant lots and abandoned or run-down industrial buildings. ACOG's chief executive, Billy Payne, conceived it as both a central gathering location for visitors and spectators during the Olympics and as a lasting legacy for the city. With the park being the showcase to the world during the Olympics, ACOG decided to hold a design competition to lay out and build the park. Architect EDAW, with the construction and design firm H.J. Russell & Company entry, was selected as the winning design for the park by ACOG. Centennial Olympic Park was constructed in two phases. Phase I of construction was completed July 1996, just in time for 1996 Olympic Summer Games at a cost of US$28 million. During the Olympics, the park contained sponsor exhibits, hosted entertainment and medal presentations, and was a hotbed for pin trading. Phase II construction took place shortly after the Olympics were over and was completed during the following year, in 1998, at the cost of US$15 million.

The celebrations in the park were marred by the July 27 bombing which killed two people (one from a heart attack) and injured one hundred eleven others. Security at the park and at all sporting venues was subsequently raised to include bag searches and metal detectors at all entrances. The bombing site is adjacent to the Park's "Centennial Tree". It was closed shortly after the Olympics for renovations (including installation of grass) until spring 1998.


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