Centennial Olympic Park

Centennial Olympic Park’s neighborhood was originally a run-down part of town – but that all began to change when Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games CEO Billy Payne gazed out his office window and had the idea to convert the multi-block eyesore into a glorious gathering spot for visitors and residents to enjoy during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games and for years to come. Following the Olympic Games, a large portion of the park was closed and redesigned for daily public use. A gala commemoration weekend in March 1998 introduced the newly landscaped park and its expanded amenities. Today, this unique 21-acre park performs a dual mission: It serves as Georgia’s lasting legacy of the Centennial Olympic Games and it anchors efforts to revitalize residential and commercial development in Atlanta. The park sponsors community-wide free events, including the Fourth of July Celebration, the Wednesday WindDown concert series and Fourth Saturday Family Fun Days. Centennial Olympic Park also hosts festivals, fundraisers and private events.