A more dazzling future was in the works in 2024 for one of Atlanta's most visited attractions. Centennial Olympic Park's iconic Fountain of Rings was set for an upgrade and modernization after the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation awarded a $2.5 million grant to the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, which owns and operates the park as part of its downtown campus.
The renovation -- described by GWCCA officials as the fountain's first "major enhancement" since 2007 -- was set to run alongside an ongoing redo of the park's visitor information center, with fountain work beginning that August and wrapping by December. The scope included an updated technology system and controls, improved lighting and water valves, a repaired fog system, and other upgrades. The result, per GWCCA, would unlock "near limitless capabilities for the fountain's lighting, water propulsion, and fogging systems," enabling customizable shows for holidays, celebrations, or other events, day or night.
GWCCA partnered on the design with Fountain People, a company that contributed to the original 1990s Fountain of Rings design, with Hogan Construction Group serving as general contractor. "These enhancements will not only preserve an iconic symbol of Atlanta's Olympic heritage," GWCCA executive director Frank Poe said in the project announcement, "but also elevate the visitor experience, ensuring the Fountain of Rings remains a cherished attraction for years to come." The park's visitor information center renovation, running in parallel, was expected to finish that July with a new exhibit celebrating the 1996 Summer Olympic Games and showcasing local memorabilia.
Original reporting by Josh Green for Urbanize Atlanta, published May 2024.
