The $25 million plan to remake downtown Atlanta's state-owned signature park got a big boost.
The Woodruff Foundation will donate $10 million to the Georgia World Congress Center for its Centennial Olympic Park plan. The same foundation two decades ago helped lay the groundwork to transform the 21-acre park into a downtown jewel.
Sweeping changes are coming to the area with the construction of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the pending implosion of the Georgia Dome and plans for a high-end hotel on the western edge of the convention center complex.
The changes envisioned for Centennial include new event space on park grounds with a downstairs restaurant, turning a section of Andrew Young International Boulevard into a pedestrian walkway and a new entrance to the greenspace.
Frank Poe, the Congress Center’s executive director, said he’s “tremendously grateful and excited” by the Woodruff Foundation’s investment. The search for the remaining $15 million, meanwhile, continues.
About the Author
