Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Neighborhoods How would you make Centennial Olympic Park better?
Posted by Gwynedd Stuart @gwynnstu on Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 3:37 PM
The Georgia World Congress Center Authority posted a survey on its Tumblr page today, asking these and other questions, to get community input and, ultimately, improve attendance. Joe Skopitz, the park's manager writes:
Centennial Olympic Park is seeking input from our friends, neighbors and all park patrons in order to improve our social, recreational and event opportunities. As many land uses around the Park have grown and matured since the Park’s completion 15 years ago, we would like to update the role that Centennial Olympic Park plays in downtown Atlanta and the metropolitan region.
Take a minute and take the survey. A dog park would be great ... the Segway tour probably isn't necessary.
Comments (15)
Showing 1-15 of 15
A dog park would be good. But I think the key is getting more residents in proximity to it. If the GWCC owns any of the acres and acres of surface parking lots that surround the park, maybe they could work with the city to build incentives for the development of residential buildings. I could see some low-rise apartments or condos on the same scale as the nearby Luckie 123 building working well.
My family lives less than a mile away and we have walked to the park many times, but the trip there would be a lot nicer if we didn't have to walk past all those parking lots with cars zooming in and out -- not a great experience.
like
dislike
I agree. The biggest issue with Centennial Olympic Park is that not many people live nearby.
I visited the park two or three times last year and had really glowing impressions each time. Cops to intimidate-away vagrants and lame wanna-be rasta weed dealers might be nice, as would an end to the squawking PA that announces the ring fountain show. Other than that— its beautiful out there. Food trucks would be cool, but whatever.
Darin is right. The park would get used and used and used if the neighborhood was a little more dense, but It gets used enough by visitors to the world of coke and the aquarium to justify its presence.
This is a good survey. After filling it out these possible activities/facilities are exciting sounding:
Skate park/In-line skating
Bocce ball court
Tai chi, yoga, or meditation
Cornhole/bean bag toss
Golf putting green
Rock climbing
Dog park
Beer Garden
Gardening/community garden
It is nice to see that they are trying to make this park more awesome, the possibilities are great!
If you live downtown, there is a large dog park on Peters St. at Haynes in Castleberry Hill. Just so ya know...
Ya, lemme say that I love the greenspace, and I'd hate to give any of it over to more structured use like bocce, skate, or dog runs.
More small festivals, though, The coke celebration for coke employees they threw last summer made music midtown look small. The transit infrastructure is there to make centennial a medium sized summer festival location— make it happen.
The beer garden sounds nice too. Maybe slash the price of these seasonal beer fests like the one next month at the masquerade— make it like 25 bucks instead of 45, widely advertise it on a spring weekend.
IDK, BEER!
What about closing the street that runs through the midde of Centennial Park?
Two words: Beer Fountain.
Zed probably has the best idea. COP is good for that kind of thing. It's not a great neighborhood park. Too much unshaded space and a bit too unorganic. But for concerts and festivals, it works out pretty well.
I'd move it to a town where the mayor isnt in washington dc all the time looking for his next job.
quick thoughts -
Regarding the people that live around the park using it, (the taxpayers) I can pinpoint exactly how to get them back in the park - make it like a park. Instead of trying to force us to buy expensive drinks and food, let us bring coolers with yes.....even beer. Nobody wants to go to a park they pay for to get fleeced. Sure, tourists in for a game will enjoy the gameday setup and the vending, but this is regarding locals, (taxpayers).
Remember the concert series...? people came to that I think there was some movie showings at some point, that was cool (ex: Piedmont, Atlantic Station) people go to those too.
I understand the budget is tight and there may not be sponsors to do this type of events right now, so think outside the box....seat
Show the Atlanta games (yes, that is what I am saying) on a big screen, let people tailgate, don't try to scare off the citizens with an oversized and overagressive police force all standing at the entrance glaring at people. Let them go do their jobs. Remember what tailgating is and allow people to bring coolers and chairs. Have a random local band play at halftime that needs some exposure.
Have lots of recylcing bags and trash bags available, a lot of people will take them and use them.
During the holidays, put up an ice skating rink, get a Santa Claus, get a snowmaker and have some sledding on the hill....
Consider letting a niche craft fair setup one weekend and learn from it, try something else the next weekend. Can you get the roller derby girls to show up...? Have a custom car show there, host TV shows there with audiences
The free internet is a great idea!
Figure out what kids like to do, and bring it there for a bit. Offer some internet based school credits during the afternoon with a floating instructor
this is easy stuff but I also realize that the goal may be to get more tourists to use this space or to figure out how pay for cleanup from local events.
If you want more input, I'd love to brainstorm more. Good luck!
- Patrick Kidda
mimes. and a couple of those statue people painted in silver or gold. instant world-class-park-status.
http://nymag.com/listings/bar/bohemian_hal…
(and a rootbeer/tea garden for the youngins and tea-tottallers)
Patrol it with a mounted police unit to make it more family friendly and add to the nostalgia factor.
Latest in Fresh Loaf
-
Vernon Jones wants to return to the Gold Dome and other interesting qualification tidbits 1
Qualifying period ends, dust settles, campaigns begin
-
Suspects in Pittsburgh gay bashing slated to go to trial Tuesday
The men accused of beating Brandon White in Southwest Atlanta already headed to court
-
Film Clips: Men In Black 3
Men in black are back, Chernobyl's tourism industry is booming, and music festival romance all this weekend 'at the movies.'
- More »
More by Author
-
Break-ins plague Capitol View ... again 29
It's deja vu all over again for burglary victims in Southwest Atlanta
-
First Slice: 4/12/12: Zimmerman charged with murder 14
Plus bank theft, washed up '80s frontmen, and a map that says everyone already hates Romney
- More »
