Friday, Dec. 3, 2004

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Harris named state rec volunteer of year

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Peachtree City resident Nick Harris, who spearheaded the initiative to build the handicap-accessible Fayette Field of Hope baseball complex, has been named the state’s Volunteer of the Year by the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association.

Harris and a group of volunteers raised more than $720,000 for Field of Hope, which is comprised of two fields. One of the fields has a rubberized surface so players in walkers and wheelchairs can maneuver much easier than they can on a normal dirt field; the other field is a regular field that was included so the Challenger League teams can play alongside their more able-bodied peers.

Harris has helped other communities begin their own Challenger programs, and he also served on the city’s Commission on Children and Youth for several years. He is also a parent mentor for the Fayette County School System and also helped pioneer the Parent Mentor Project for the Georgia Department of Education.

A retired Army major, Harris was singled out in his nomination form as the driving force behind the Field of Hope. He got plenty of inspiration from his son, Ethan, who participates in the city’s Challenger League, and a hard-working board of directors.