Until 2005 you only had to spend a few minutes on most any section of the Peachtree City cart path system to see that they are aging rapidly: Tree roots pushing up the pavement, “pot holes” in various locations and a general decay of the shoulders of a too narrow path format.
Some of this deterioration even caused accidents as cyclists were forced off the pavement by a golf cart driver who did not know where the cart’s right wheel was on the path.
Then in 2005 the city hired Tom Corbett as the new director for path maintenance and standards (or whatever his title is now). Tom set about to assess the situation and evaluate his resources with an eye toward a path restoration project. It took many months of budget planning and resource acquisition to begin this enormous project.
Most of us focus on the portion of the path system nearest our homes and, therefore tend to overlook the other 80 miles of path. As you may have observed (if you get outside of your own home path area) the paths are beginning to be restored.
If you are one of those who has registered complaints about the system (I know I have), then you will want to also offset this by registering a compliment to City Hall or with Tom Corbett (tcorbett@peachtree-city.org) directly regarding the good-looking cart paths that are beginning to emerge in our city.
Not only are they being repaved, but Tom has initiated a new 10-foot wide format replacing the old 8-foot width.
He has also engaged our engineering department to install drainage culverts under the path where water accumulation had contributed to erosion in the past. He has insisted on a rock base for all of the new pavement (most contractors just laid down pavement on top of dirt).
His willingness to collaborate with other departments, purchase our own paving equipment (versus the required contracting before) and utilize resources efficiently is bringing a real positive to our city and ultimately will increase our homes’ values.
Give Tom your kudos for a great job being well done. Bernie and City Council, let’s be sure we keep him here.
Ron Black
Peachtree City, Ga.