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Field of Hope will get its scoreboard

PTC Council inks deal through December of 2005

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Upon further review, Peachtree City’s Field of Hope will get its free scoreboard from the Coca-Cola Company after all.

At the Aug. 7 meeting of the Peachtree City City Council, the scoreboard donation was in jeopardy after council balked at signing a 10-year agreement for free scoreboards at city recreation facilities. The agreement calls for the exclusive use of Coke products at concession stands, and there was some concern if a better deal could be made with Coke or another entity that supplies the same service.

Council directed staff to seek proposals from other companies for the free scoreboard service, which with Coke includes maintenance and light bulb replacement when necessary. But doing that would take time, which the Field of Hope doesn’t have given its opening day is slated for Oct. 2.

On Thursday night, the council was asked to approve a deal for scoreboards with Coca-Cola that lasts through December 2005. That way, the Field of Hope can get its scoreboard issue settled, said Randy Gaddo, the city’s director of leisure services.

The contract was approved with a unanimous vote. Councilman Steve Rapson pointed out that the previously proposed 10-year contract also had an out clause that would have given the city the chance to back out of the arrangement if necessary.

The Field of Hope is a baseball field specially designed to remove some of the encumbrances faced by children who have disabilities and use wheelchairs and walkers. The field has a rubberized surface and the nearby concession stand was also designed with that goal in mind.

Adjacent to the Field of Hope is another little league-size baseball diamond so able-bodied children can play alongside participants in the city’s Challenger League program.