Centennial Olympic Park
Centennial Olympic Park | |
---|---|
Atlanta, Georgia | |
Coordinates | 33°45′36″N 84°23′36″W / 33.760042°N 84.393229°W |
Area | 21 acres (85,000 m2) |
Created | 1996 |
Operated by | Georgia World Congress Center Authority |
Open | Daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. including holidays, unless otherwise specified for a private event. |
Status | Limited operation[1] |
Website | www |
Centennial Olympic Park is a 22-acre (89,000 m2) public
History
The park property had previously been a variety of vacant lots and abandoned or run-down industrial buildings. ACOG's chief executive, Billy Payne, conceived the park both as 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. Landscape Architect EDAW, with the joint construction team of Beers/Russell, were selected to design and build the park by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority.[2]
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.[3]
The celebrations in the park were marred by the July 27 bombing which killed two people (one from a heart attack) and injured 111 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.
On March 14, 2008, the park sustained minor damage when a tornado tore through downtown Atlanta. Two of the 65 foot (20 m) tall light towers were blown down. It was the first tornado to hit the downtown area since weather record keeping began in the 1880s.[4][5]
On July 16, 2016, the park held events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the
On May 29, 2020, Centennial Olympic Park was the scene of the start of what was supposed to be a peaceful protest in respect of the
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia, the park was closed to the public in July 2020. GWCCA executive director Frank Poe stated that Centennial Olympic Park relied on revenue from events taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center for the park's upkeep.[10] By April 2021, portions of Centennial Olympic Park were reopened to the public; however, the park only operated from 10:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and public restrooms, visitors' center, the Fountain of Rings, and the amphitheater remain closed.[11] On October 14, 2021, GWCCA officials announced that the park would be open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting on October 18 and most of the previously closed areas would reopen; however, the Fountain of Rings would not have any music shows and public restrooms remain closed.[12]
Location
The park is surrounded by many major Atlanta Landmarks; the Georgia World Congress Center, College Football Hall of Fame, State Farm Arena, the CNN Center, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium are all on the west side of the park and the Georgia Aquarium, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the World of Coca-Cola on the north side of the park. It is bounded by Marietta Street to the west, Baker Street to the north and Centennial Olympic Park Drive to the east and south.
Features
A key feature of the park is the Fountain of Rings interactive
The fountain area is surrounded by flags representing the host countries of each
The park has shows at the fountain all 365 days of the year, four times daily. They play at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 9:30 p.m.[14]
In July 2013, SkyView Atlanta, a
Engraved bricks
The park was paid for in part by the donations of thousands of individuals who bought bricks engraved with the short message of their choice and laid as pavers throughout the park. The contribution for each brick was $35. The message was allowed 15 characters on each of two lines. The finished bricks were laid in alternating light (tan) and dark (brick red) groups comprising a large portion of the 800,000 bricks used in the park's construction. Many contributors ordered replica bricks to keep for themselves as souvenirs.
Economic impact
The park has become a catalyst for new development in Atlanta's downtown. The new
In 2016, the park received the Downtown Economic Impact Award from Central Atlanta Progress Inc. Centennial Olympic Park was cited for attracting more than $2.4 billion in investment since opening in 1996.[17]
References
- ^ "Park Information - Georgia World Congress Center Authority". Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ^ "Projects: Centennial Olympic Park Phase I & Phase II". H.J. Russell & Company Construction Group. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- ^ "Projects: Centennial Olympic Park Phase I & Phase II". H.J. Russell & Company Construction Group. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- Atlanta Journal and Constitution. Archived from the originalon March 9, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
- Atlanta Journal and Constitution. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
- ^ "New historic marker for 1996 Games unveiled in Centennial Olympic Park". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
- ^ "Historical Marker planted for 1996 Centennial Olympic Games". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
- ^ Foreman, Lauren (July 15, 2016). "Relive the 1996 Olympics". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ Fernando Alfonso III. "CNN Center in Atlanta damaged during protests". CNN. Archived from the original on May 30, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- ^ "Centennial Olympic Park closes indefinitely". CBS 46. WGCL-TV. July 6, 2020. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ Green, Josh (April 5, 2021). "Centennial Olympic Park has finally reopened. Sort of". Urbanize Atlanta. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ^ Centennial Olympic Park (October 14, 2021). "We are happy to announce Centennial Olympic Park will fully reopen beginning Monday, Oct. 18. Park hours will be 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily. For additional information on Park hours, features, and upcoming events, please visit". Twitter. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "Fountain Pen: Official Visitor's Guide to Centennial Olympic Park" (PDF). May 23, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
- ^ "Fountain of Rings: Centennial Olympic Park". Centennial Olympic Park. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
- ^ Byrnes, Mark (May 21, 2013). "Atlanta's Getting a Ferris Wheel". CityLab. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
- ^ Schramm, WISC-TV; Dingrando, Greg (July 16, 2013). "Giant Ferris Wheel 'SkyView Atlanta' Is Now Open". Atlanta: WGCL-TV. Archived from the original on August 21, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
- ^ Layman, Tonya (March 25, 2016). "Centennial Olympic Park receives Downtown Economic Impact Award". Atlanta: Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
External links
- Centennial Park Area travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Centennial Park official site
- Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association's park page