Lake Lanier Olympic Park

During the organization of the 1996 Olympic Games, a Gainesville resident, Mr. Bill Fields, served as a member of the U.S. Olympic Atlanta Organizing Committee.  Having been a member of the Great 8 rowing crew and 1952 Olympic Gold Medalist, he personally recommended that Lake Lanier was the perfect location for the rowing and canoe/kayak event for the 1996 games due to its natural barriers, calm water and long open stretches of water.  

After the Olympics the Lake Lanier Rowing Club and Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club were established to continue the Olympic Legacy and foster the next generation of athletes. Between 1996 and 2015, the clubs hosted numerous regional, state, national and international competitions along with recreational opportunities for the community.

In 2015 a group of community leaders saw the need to establish formal operations of the park.  Lake Lanier Olympic Park Foundation (formally known as Gainesville-Hall 96) was re-established and contracted to manage the day to day operations of the park. In the first 4 years of establishment, the foundation invested over $1.5 million dollars into the Olympic Park through public-private sponsorships and support. These investments allowed for improvements to be made to the park for the first time in over a decade.  In 2019, the City of Gainesville annexed the park and took over the day to operations of Lake Lanier Olympic Park. 

Lake Lanier Olympic Park is truly a community park, hosting various community activities from Regattas, Food Truck Fridays, Concerts and numerous festivals. With the backing of the Lake Lanier Olympic Park Foundation, the Olympic Legacy continues to drive and navigate our growth into one of the best facilities around the world for athletes and community members alike.