Centennial Olympic Park

Centennial Olympic Park is a 21-acre public park located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, built for the 1996 Summer Olympics by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority in collaboration with Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games and City of Atlanta. The park was designed by EDAW and Aecom and features a large grassy area, a Fountain of Rings, and a Quilt of Dreams monument, among other attractions, and is situated near the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and CNN Center. The park's construction was made possible through the efforts of Mayor of Atlanta Andrew Young, Georgia Governor Zell Miller, and Olympic Organizing Committee chairman Billy Payne, with support from The Coca-Cola Company, IBM, and other Olympic sponsors. The park has become a popular destination for both locals and tourists, hosting various events and activities throughout the year, including concerts, festivals, and Fourth of July celebrations, in partnership with organizations like the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Fox Theatre, and Zoo Atlanta.

● History

The concept of building a public park in downtown Atlanta was first proposed by Billy Payne in 1990, as part of the city's bid to host the 1996 Summer Olympics, with the goal of creating a gathering place for Olympic athletes, spectators, and volunteers, and to leave a lasting legacy for the city, as envisioned by International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch and United States Olympic Committee chairman LeRoy Walker. The park's design and construction were overseen by EDAW and Aecom, with input from City of Atlanta officials, including Mayor Andrew Young and City Council members, such as Maynard Jackson and Shirley Franklin, and in collaboration with Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia State University. The park was officially opened on July 21, 1996, with a ceremony attended by Olympic athletes, dignitaries, and performers, including Muhammad Ali, Pelé, and Stevie Wonder, and has since become a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from around the world, including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston.

● Design and Features

The park's design features a large grassy area, a Fountain of Rings, and a Quilt of Dreams monument, among other attractions, and is situated near the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and CNN Center, with SkyView Atlanta and State Farm Arena nearby, and is connected to the Atlanta BeltLine and Piedmont Park by a network of sidewalks and bike paths, designed by Perkins+Will and HOK. The park's landscape was designed by EDAW and features a variety of plant species, including trees, shrubs, and flowers, and a lake and walking trails, with benches and picnic tables throughout, and is maintained by the City of Atlanta's Department of Parks and Recreation in partnership with The Trust for Public Land and Park Pride. The park also features several public art installations, including a statue of Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the Modern Olympic Games, and a memorial to the victims of the 1996 Olympic bombing, designed by Sculptor Martin Dawe and Architect Thom Mayne.

● Events and Activities

The park hosts a variety of events and activities throughout the year, including concerts, festivals, and Fourth of July celebrations, in partnership with organizations like the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Fox Theatre, and Zoo Atlanta, and has become a popular destination for both locals and tourists, with over 3 million visitors per year, from cities like Miami, Boston, and San Francisco, and countries like Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. The park has also hosted several high-profile events, including the 1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremony and the Super Bowl XXXIV halftime show, featuring Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, and Enrique Iglesias, and has been the site of several protests and rallies, including the 1996 Olympic protest and the 2017 Women's March, with participation from organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The park is also home to several food vendors and retail shops, including The Varsity and World of Coca-Cola, and offers guided tours and self-guided tours of the park, led by docents from the Atlanta History Center and Margaret Mitchell House.

● Impact and Legacy

The park has had a significant impact on the city of Atlanta, serving as a catalyst for urban renewal and economic development in the area, with the help of organizations like the Atlanta Development Authority and Invest Atlanta, and has become a popular destination for both locals and tourists, with over 3 million visitors per year, from cities like Dallas, Washington, D.C., and Denver, and countries like Germany, France, and Japan. The park has also hosted several high-profile events, including the 1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremony and the Super Bowl XXXIV halftime show, featuring Britney Spears, NSYNC, and Aerosmith, and has been recognized as one of the best public parks in the United States by organizations like the National Recreation and Park Association and The Trust for Public Land, with support from National Park Service and United States Department of the Interior. The park's legacy continues to be felt, with plans for future development and expansion, including the addition of new attractions and amenities, such as a skate park and a dog park, designed by Skatepark designers Site Design Group and Landscape architects Hargreaves Associates.

● Geography and Accessibility

The park is located in downtown Atlanta, near the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and CNN Center, and is connected to the Atlanta BeltLine and Piedmont Park by a network of sidewalks and bike paths, designed by Perkins+Will and HOK, with MARTA rail stations and bus routes nearby, including Five Points station and Peachtree Center station, and is accessible by car via Interstate 75 and Interstate 85, with parking garages and lots available, managed by LAZ Parking and SP+. The park is also within walking distance of several hotels, including the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center and the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, and is near several restaurants and bars, including The Varsity and Statue of Henry W. Grady, with delivery and takeout options available from Grubhub and Uber Eats. Category:Olympic parks