On Thursday, November 13, Macon-Bibb County leaders and community members gathered to celebrate the official opening of Bicentennial Park, a new public space created to honor our city’s 200-year history and inspire reflection, healing, and community connection. The park is located at 239 Clinton Street. You can watch the full ceremony here.

“Bicentennial Park stands at the crossroads of our past and our future,” said Mayor Lester Miller. “On land rich with Indigenous history, Black heritage, and the industrious spirit that built this community. It is a place for reflection and reconciliation, where we can honor the stories that shaped us and look toward the future with hope and unity.”

Bicentennial Park serves as the signature project of Macon’s Bicentennial celebration. The Macon200 Bicentennial Committee raised approximately $1 million for park development and public art installations.

Its design also carries a special historical connection. Landscape architect Wimberly Treadwell, who created the park’s plan, is the great-granddaughter of P.E. Dennis, one of the architects of the Macon City Auditorium built for the 1923 centennial. Her work weaves together generations of civic design and local heritage.

“It has been a wonderful process of collaboration,” said Treadwell. “We did stumble and stall over one key elements with, how do you tell 200 years of history in a park? It was decided that art would serve as the heart of the park.”

The Urban Development Authority donated the property as part of its decade-long investment in the surrounding neighborhood.

“This is a piece of land that is the original part of Macon,” said Morrison. “This is where Macon started, on the east side of the river and it has been telling our story from before there was a Macon to now. It has told the story of our division, being torn apart, of disinvestment, of progress..every bit of Macon has been told right here.”

Bicentennial Park features walking trails, open green space, a community pavilion dedicated to Steven Fulbright, and a field suitable for sports and traditional stickball. Several art installations, which were created by local, national, and international artists, reflect Macon’s layered story and the hope of moving forward together.

Some of the art displays include:

• “Even Walls Can Move” by Ilan Averbuch – A brick boat made from salvaged materials, symbolizing unity and the collective movement toward a better future.
• “ECKE – Mother Ground” by Kenneth Johnson – A Muscogee-created marble sculpture honoring Indigenous presence and history, oriented west toward the Muscogee Nation’s headquarters in Oklahoma. A bronze stickball player will soon be added to accompany the piece.
• “The Living Story of Macon” by Casto Solano (coming soon) – Steel panels depicting collaged images from Macon’s cultural and musical heritage to the industrial history of East Macon.
• “Column of Change” by Alexis Gregg and Tanner Coleman – A brick installation crafted by Macon artists, connecting local craftsmanship to the park’s aesthetic.
• Wind Sculptures by Lyman Whitaker – Gently moving with the breeze, these kinetic sculptures bring motion to the park and are dedicated to Judge Kay Gerhardt by Alex Morrison.

With nearby projects such as the East Bank development, the new arena, and the proposed Muscogee cultural center, Bicentennial Park is positioned to become a key landmark in Macon’s next chapter.