Downtown Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park Closed 'Indefinitely'

ATLANTA, GA — Centennial Olympic Park won’t be reopening to the public anytime soon. It’s closed "indefinitely," according to the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA), which manages the park.

The GWCCA announced the decision in a statement Monday. Due to the coronavirus, they’ve had to cancel summer events. There has been a loss in income and they can’t continue to keep the park open, said executive director Frank Poe.

The GWCCA campus includes Georgia World Congress Center, Centennial Olympic Park, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“The financial ramifications stemming from this global pandemic have hit the hospitality industry, including Georgia World Congress Center Authority, especially hard,” Poe said. “The park relies on operating support from GWCC and without event activities on our campus the costs associated with maintaining public access to the park is not feasible.”

Poe said the authority will focus its resources on preserving the green space and landscape in “anticipation of daily use sometime in the future.”

The annual July Fourth fireworks celebration at Centennial Olympic Park was canceled this year, also due to the pandemic.