The Peachtree City Recreation Commission voted at its regular monthly meeting to recommend the allocation of $5,000 for playground improvements at Peachtree City Elementary School.

This action was taken under a relatively new city policy that directs the Recreation Commission to consider each request for city funds for such projects, forwarding recommendations to the City Council for approval or denial.

A school group may request no more than $5,000 during any five-year period. Upon completion of the project, the playground must be available to local residents during after-school hours.

Jane Langley, vice president of the PTO at Peachtree City Elementary, said that her organization has $9,500 in savings and has recently added more than $8,000 due to a fund-raiser.

The Recreation Commission's recommendation is contingent upon the PTO obtaining the rest of the money needed to complete the first phase of the project. A contract between the city and the PTO will be entered into, as is standard procedure under this new policy.

Commissioner Dan Wright noted that he was not aware of any funding from the school system for this project. Langley replied that there is none, because the school system does not fund projects such as this outside the school building itself.

She added, however, that many groups like hers are picking up the slack and providing in what she feels is a much-needed and neglected area of children's school life.

Leisure services director Randy Gaddo said that, due to the requirements for after-school availability, the agreement is “a win-win situation for the city.”

In other business, it was announced that the bubble will be placed over the two pools at Kedron between Oct. 4 and Oct. 16. The pools will reopen a day or two later for the winter.

A plumbing problem at the Kedron field house also will be addressed during that time. The staff hopes that the field house will be able to remain open, albeit without running water, during the repairs, but that is not certain yet.

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