Frederick Law Olmsted said, "Every city should have a park at its heart." He certainly achieved that with his designs of Central Park and Golden Gate Park - but it took EDAW, Inc., the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, and the State of Georgia to put a park into the heart of downtown Atlanta. (See LASN, June 1996, "Laurels/or Atlanta.") As you leave Freedom Parkway and cruise down International Drive, you come upon this wonderful, urban open space which served as a festival site during the 1996 Olympic Games. If you walk out from the Georgia World Congress Center, you can see that the northern part of the site is under Phase II construction, with completion scheduled for June 1997; it will constitute 21-acres of rolling turf and trees, embroidered by walks of engraved bricks bought by supporters. Centennial Plaza and the 5 Rings Fountain (See LASN June 1996, "Rings of Bright Water," page 46) remain from the Olympics. The south edge of the park, with amphitheater, is now open. But change?EUR??,,????'??+ transition?EUR??,,????'??+ is in the wind. Phase II is truly exciting?EUR??,,????'??+ a chance for park planners to design with not only vision, but with feedback from users?EUR??,,????'??+ a rare opportunity, indeed. Proposed theme spaces along Techwood include plazas for: Civic Leaders, Greek Olympic Heritage, Medal Winners, Bomb Victims and 197 Nations Entry?EUR??,,????'??+ at an estimated total development cost of $78 million. Will it all be built? Perhaps not- but it undoubtedly would please Olmsted to see this planning at the heart of Atlanta. PROPOSED CHANGES TO CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK INCLUDE "QUILT" GARDEN'S AND A BELVEDERE OR GAZEBO AT THE HIGH POINT ON THE WEST EDGE OF THIS LASTING LEGACY TO THE 1996 OLYMPIC GAMES, Illustration provided courtesy of EDAW, Inc. Watch for the March issue of LASN and our tribute to "City Parks!"