Centennial Park located in downtown Atlanta was originally designed as a tourist attraction during the 1996 Summer Olympics.
But it would soon become the infamous site of a terrorist attack by Eric Rudolph. It would also set off a media frenzy in which Richard Jewell, a security guard would be blamed for the attack. His story was documented in Clint Eastwood’s Richard Jewell where he was portrayed by Paul Walter Hauser.
It would also be the focus of the TV series Manhunt: The Search for Eric Rudolph. I went to school with some people who were at the park on the night of the bombing on July 27, 1996. They said they were near where the bomb went off. After it exploded, security and police basically evacuated everyone and they were scattered. No one had cell phones then so it was hard to make contact afterwards.
Despite this dark moment in its history, it still remains a great place to enjoy your time. There’s playgrounds, fountains and a perfect skyline of downtown Atlanta.
Zane Says 