It was in 2015 that the Peachtree City Council mapped a plan to upgrade areas around City Hall. Significant work has been done at Drake Field and more is on the way.
The council on June 15 heard an update on plans for additional work at Drake Field situated east of City Hall. Now initially transformed with the addition of several amenities during the past several months, upcoming work is expected to include an open-air pavilion and, at a later date, a pedestrian bridge connecting Drake Field to All Children’s Playground.
The city is exploring having an entry feature to Drake Field adjacent to the parking lot, constructing a pavilion, adding landscaping to the island in the parking lot and installing low-maintenance plants.
According to City Manager Jon Rorie, the feature to be constructed of wood and stone with a metal roof, the open-air pavilion could total 1,300 sq. ft. with a fireplace and be suitable for multiple uses. He noted that the materials used in the construction would be low-maintenance. Rorie said the project is approximately 95 percent ready to go to bid.
The project currently has $100,000 of dedicated funding through impact fees and a transfer from the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Rorie said.
Commenting on future plans, Rorie said one of the projects includes a pedestrian bridge connecting Drake Field to All Children’s Playground. A SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) project with a $250,000 estimated cost, the bridge would connect to the amenity areas and would not be used by golf carts.
Another SPLOST project for the future is the clearing of underbrush on Snake Island and the construction of a pedestrian-only bridge to access what is planned to become a passive park. Rorie said specimen trees on Snake Island will remain intact.
Rorie said the island will contain no asphalt, no emergency vehicle access and the bridge will not be used by golf carts. The project is currently in the design-build phase.
At the suggestion of neighbors at the meeting, Rorie said the city would explore locating the bridge in a different area.
The city recently added a number of amenities at Drake Field such as swings, electric connections and lighting. Areas around field, especially toward City Hall, have seen significant clearing of underbrush.
