‘Adopt-a-brick’ returns to Olympic park

Those who missed their opportunity to have their name immortalized in a brick at Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Olympics will get another chance.

The downtown Atlanta attraction has relaunched its “Adopt-A-Brick” program to help pay for new park enhancements, including expanding the 21-acre greenspace to include land that currently is home to the Metro Atlanta Chamber.

The Georgia World Congress Center Authority, which oversees the state-owned Centennial Olympic, hopes to sell more than 40,000 bricks to raise money to upgrade the Olympic rings water feature and the property’s winding reflecting pool, a restaurant and more open space for concerts and festivals.

The authority is trying to raise $25 million for the park update. The Woodruff Foundation in November said it will donate $10 million toward the project.

The bricks would cost $65 for a 4-by-8 inch brick and $125 for an 8-by-8 inch brick. The smaller brick would allow for two small lines of text while the larger will accommodate four short lines.

More than 400,00 bricks were sold during the original brick-adoption campaign, which supported the 1996 Games and construction of the park.

The new bricks are being offered on a first-come, first-served basis and will be installed during Spring 2017. The plan is to lay them along what is now Andrew Young International Boulevard, which has been closed to vehicle traffic.

“We are thrilled to bring back such a popular program in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Centennial Olympic Park and the 1996 Olympic Games,” said Frank Poe, executive director of the GWCCA. “We’re proud to be the stewards of a place that so many people hold near and dear to their hearts and where they’ve made great memories.”

For information or to purchase, visit bricks.centennialpark.com or call 1-844-496 BRICK (2742).