The Centennial Olympic Park started out when the CEO of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, Billy Payne, decided to transform the disorganized multi-block area into a magnificent gathering spot for the coming 1996 Centennial Olympic Games and for the other events that to come.

With private-sector donations amounting to $755 million, together with the massive support of the community and willingness of the state, the Centennial Olympic Park became a reality.

After the Olympic Games, a big part of the park was closed to make way for changes in design that is more suitable for public use. In March 1998, the newly landscaped Park and its other features and amenities were introduced in a gala commemoration.

Today, the park, situated on 21 acres of property, serves as the legacy of the Centennial Olympic Games. Operated by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, it sponsors community events, festivals, fundraisers, and other private events.