Peachtree City is taking a major step toward revitalizing its recreational offerings with the adoption of the 2025 Parks & Recreation Master Plan. Unanimously approved by the City Council on January 16, 2025, it serves as a strategic roadmap for expanding and modernizing our parks, athletic facilities, and programming. It also marks the city’s first comprehensive recreation update in at least 15 years.
If you want to explore the full plan and understand its details, you can review it on the city’s website by clicking here.
To bring this vision to life, the plan’s implementation will unfold in phases with projects prioritized based on community input, the evolving needs of residents, and available funds.
With that in mind, here’s a closer look at how the plan was created, what it includes, and what Peachtree City needs to do to turn its ideas into realities.
The Current State Of Our Recreation
Peachtree City is already strong recreationally with over 1,200 acres of parks and more than 100 miles of multi-use paths. However, as the city’s population grows and demands on infrastructure increase, maintaining high-quality services has become challenging. “The last Recreation Master Plan was dated 2011, so it was high time for an update,” says Mayor Kim Learnard, reflecting on the need for this comprehensive revision.
In response to these challenges, residents have voiced strong support for both enhancing existing recreational spaces and expanding facilities for growing sports like pickleball and cricket. “Citizen engagement in Peachtree City is soaring,” says Mayor Learnard, referencing the 2,420 survey responses collected during the planning process. “Our citizens overwhelmingly support not only our existing path system but also expanded trails, passive parks, and hiking and nature opportunities as a number one priority.”
How The Plan Took Shape
To ensure the new master plan truly reflects the community’s needs, months of research, public engagement, and expert collaboration were required. In May 2023, Peachtree City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a consulting firm to assess the city’s recreational facilities and provide strategic recommendations. The contract was awarded to CPL in August 2023.
To ensure the plan accurately reflected the community’s input, CPL collected data from December 2023 to April 2024 through site visits, surveys, stakeholder interviews, and community outreach. In March 2024, CPL presented the initial survey results to the City Council. Following this, a draft plan was developed, reviewed, and refined into the final version that was adopted.
What’s Included In The Recreation Plan
The 2025 Parks & Recreation Master Plan includes over 30 proposed projects designed to enhance community spaces across Peachtree City. The following key initiatives highlight some of the most significant improvements aimed at expanding our recreational opportunities:
Braelinn Recreation Complex
As one of the biggest transformations in the 2025 Parks & Recreation Master Plan, the Braelinn Recreation Complex is set to become a hub of activity and connection for Peachtree City residents. While preserving its familiar layout, the renovation brings major upgrades designed to improve functionality, accessibility, and playability for all ages.
At the heart of the redesign are two brand-new artificial turf multipurpose fields, built to host soccer, lacrosse, and football with a flexible layout that can also accommodate cricket to meet growing demand. Baseball fields will be strategically repositioned along the southeastern boundary while centrally located batting and cricket cages will enhance practice and training opportunities.
Beyond sports, the plan adds two spacious picnic pavilions, providing shaded gathering spaces for families, teams, and community events. The playground will also be relocated to a more accessible spot near the multipurpose fields, ensuring it remains a key feature for young visitors.
Existing facilities are getting much-needed attention as well. Basketball courts will be resurfaced and upgraded while the tennis courts will be restored by removing pickleball lines to optimize play. Parking expansion will improve accessibility with new golf cart charging stations, making it easier than ever for residents to arrive via Peachtree City’s signature cart path system.
Rockaway Outdoor Pickleball Complex
Planned to replace the Rockaway Compost Facility site, a brand-new 24-court venue will transform the city into a premier destination for pickleball enthusiasts.
Designed with both functionality and fan experience in mind, the complex will feature a main stadium court, and a modern clubhouse with restrooms and seating areas will give players and spectators a comfortable place to gather. Pedestrian walkways will seamlessly connect the courts to a newly built parking lot with 91 spaces.
For golf cart commuters, the facility will also include dedicated cart parking with charging stations. The existing cell tower on-site will remain but will be thoughtfully integrated into the complex’s layout.
Jim Meade Memorial Community Recreation Center
The Jim Meade Memorial Site is set to become the city’s premier hub for indoor sports, fitness, and community events. Conveniently located near the upcoming pickleball complex, this expansive facility will offer something for everyone.
At the heart of the center is a state-of-the-art aquatic facility featuring a competition swimming pool and diving well. Two multi-use indoor courts will provide space for basketball, volleyball, and other sports while a performance stage will open up opportunities for live events. Additional amenities include locker rooms, office space, and a large community room with an attached kitchen.
For residents looking to stay active year-round, the center will also boast a raised indoor walking track, offering a climate-controlled space for walking and jogging. Outdoors, a splash pad will be added next to the pool, giving kids a fun and safe way to enjoy the water.
Ensuring easy access, new parking lots will be built along the western edge of the site, connecting directly to Meade Field Drive. The facility will also seamlessly link to the pickleball complex and existing sports fields via the city’s multi-use cart path system, making it easy for residents to navigate between recreational spaces.
Pebblepocket Park
Pebblepocket Park would get a major refresh under the plan. A sprawling 3,000 square foot splash pad will be located near the existing restroom building. Additionally, the park’s recreational spaces are getting a boost. The basketball court will be resurfaced, complete with new goals. For younger visitors, the playground will be expanded and feature new equipment designed for older children while a smaller, age-appropriate play area will be added closer to the tennis courts and splash pad.
To accommodate the expected increase in visitors, new parking areas will be developed on the western side of the park, including bus parking and overflow lots. These improvements will make it easier for families, school groups, and community members to access the park without the hassle of limited parking.
Battery Way Park
Battery Way Park is set to receive major upgrades aimed at enhancing accessibility, recreation, and relaxation for visitors. Parking and traffic flow will see a significant improvement with a redesigned one-way entrance system that maximizes available space along with new angled parking along the western and southern edges. Golf cart users will benefit from new charging stations.
At the center of the project is a new restroom facility, centrally located near walking paths and a dedicated bicycle parking area. Families with children will love the expanded play area, which will now include an adventure playground nestled within the wooded areas.
For those looking for a more peaceful experience, a designated lake-viewing area will provide a scenic retreat.
Kelly Drive Park
Kelly Drive Park is set to become a dynamic, multi-functional space designed to serve as a community hub for events. A paved plaza will be the park’s centerpiece, offering shaded seating and transforming into a farmer’s market on designated days.
Adjacent to the plaza, a small performance stage with a natural amphitheater will provide a beautiful backdrop for outdoor concerts, theater performances, and community events.
For families, a new playground will be centrally located near the amphitheater, providing a space for children to play while their parents enjoy the performances. The park will also feature a restroom facility for added convenience and comfort.
With open meadow space for picnics, casual sports, and passive recreation, Kelly Drive Park offers something for everyone. Its trails and pathways will connect to existing cart paths, ensuring that residents and visitors can easily access the park by foot or golf cart.
The City’s Multi-Use Path Network
As a heavily used resource, the 2025 Parks & Recreation Master Plan recognizes the importance of ongoing maintenance, safety improvements, and accessibility enhancements to ensure that the path system remains a reliable and well-maintained asset for residents.
The plan prioritizes routine maintenance, resurfacing projects, and improved signage rather than large-scale expansions. Safety improvements such as better lighting, updated wayfinding markers, and clearer signage will enhance accessibility and ease navigation. Additionally, targeted accessibility upgrades will ensure that the path system remains welcoming for all users, including those with mobility challenges.
Other Playground Improvements
For decades, Peachtree City’s playgrounds have been cherished community spaces, but many are now in need of modernization to meet today’s standards.
A core focus of the 2025 Parks & Recreation Master Plan is replacing outdated play structures with new, ADA-accessible equipment, ensuring that all children—regardless of ability—can fully engage in outdoor play. To further enhance safety, rubberized surfacing will be installed, providing a cushioned landing area to minimize injury risk while improving overall play comfort.
To create more welcoming spaces for families, the plan also calls for shaded seating areas and pavilions near playgrounds, offering parents and caregivers comfortable spots to relax and supervise children.
Beyond these structural upgrades, the city will introduce interactive sensory elements designed to spark creativity and encourage inclusive play. These features will provide engaging, multi-sensory experiences that accommodate children with varying abilities, making Peachtree City’s playgrounds more accessible, stimulating, and fun for all.
How Will We Pay For This Expensive Plan?
The 2025 Parks & Recreation Master Plan outlines an ambitious vision, but many of the proposed projects lack secured funding. Currently, Peachtree City allocates approximately $4.1 million annually toward parks and recreation, which comes out to about $89.95 per household. While this level of investment has led to high public satisfaction with 92% of survey respondents approving of current efforts, additional funding will be required to implement the plan. Here are some potential strategies to secure the necessary funding:
Increase Our Cost Recovery Rates
Cost recovery rates refer to the percentage of a department’s operating costs that are covered through user fees and other revenue-generating activities. For example, when residents pay for facility rentals, classes, or memberships, that money helps cover the cost of maintaining and running those services.
Nationally, parks and recreation departments recover about 25% of their costs through such fees while Peachtree City currently recovers 23.2%. The plan recommends raising our cost recovery goal to 40%, which can be achieved by adjusting rental fees, updating pricing for premium facilities, and expanding other revenue-generating programs.
Increase Our Out-Of-City Fees
Fayette County has traditionally paid a $150,000 annual subsidy for county residents to use Peachtree City’s parks and facilities. However, 30–55% of participants in city recreation programs are from outside Peachtree City. To better reflect this usage, the plan suggests renegotiating the county subsidy. This adjustment would ensure the subsidy covers at least 20% of the city’s total parks and recreation budget, raising Fayette County’s payment to $820,000 annually.
Increase Per-Household-Fees
The public survey showed that more than 50% of residents support an annual $50 per household fee for parks and recreation. If implemented, this fee could generate approximately $225,000 per year to help fund the plan’s initiatives.
Reevaluate Fees From Sport Associations
Peachtree City currently collects impact fees from youth sports organizations that use the city’s facilities. The plan recommends continuing these fees and evaluating them annually to ensure fairness and consistency, helping to support the upkeep and expansion of sports facilities.
Use Already Allocated SPLOST Funds
For major projects, Peachtree City relies on Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funding. SPLOST funds are allocated every six years based on Fayette County voter approval with revenue distributed among municipalities according to population size.
The most recent 2023 SPLOST allocated $3 million to citywide playground equipment replacement.
Take Advantage Of State and Federal Grants
Various grants are available for greenspace preservation, playground accessibility, and outdoor recreation. For example, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) offers federal funding to support outdoor recreation projects that help preserve and enhance public parks. The city should proactively track these grants and their application deadlines to maximize funding opportunities.
Leverage Public-Private Partnerships
The master plan encourages the city to pursue partnerships with businesses and private organizations to help fund major projects, such as the proposed pickleball complex. Additionally, the city could sell naming rights for select facilities, offering companies increased visibility within the community in exchange for revenue.
What’s Next?
The 2025 Parks & Recreation Master Plan is more than just a vision for the future. It’s a framework for enhancing Peachtree City’s recreation to align with our priorities.
However, to implement this plan, I believe council needs to address several important steps sooner rather than later:
Estimate How Much The Plan Will Cost
While a detailed cost analysis is ideal, council should at least provide a rough estimate of costs broken down by major initiatives. This will help the community understand the scope of the investment required and foster transparency around the financial commitment.
Shore Up Funding Sources
Develop a comprehensive plan that outlines how each project will be financed, integrating available funds such as those from SPLOST with other potential revenue streams. Additionally, it’s essential to provide a strategy for ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of each project, including maintenance costs and potential funding gaps. This will create a clear path for funding and ensure that the plan remains viable for years to come.
Prioritize Projects Based On Effort & Impact For Quick Wins
To ensure the plan’s effectiveness and efficiency, the council should assess each project’s potential return on investment. By evaluating the effort required versus the value each project provides to the community, the council can prioritize initiatives that offer the greatest benefit with the least amount of resources. Focus on low-effort, high-impact projects to achieve early wins and build momentum for larger, more challenging initiatives.
Communicate Timelines
It is crucial for the council to establish and communicate clear timelines for each phase of the 2025 Parks & Recreation Master Plan. Setting specific milestones for when projects will begin, key decision points, and expected completion dates will allow residents to track progress and stay engaged throughout the process.
Mobilize Public Support
For the plan to succeed, it requires strong support from the broader community. The council must actively communicate the tangible benefits of each project and how it will directly enhance our quality of life. A robust outreach strategy will help build public support, secure necessary funding, and encourage community involvement. By championing the plan effectively, the council can ensure that these improvements resonate with everyone.
Get Involved
What do you think of the adopted plan?
What projects would you like to see prioritized?
What next steps do you want to see?
Are you concerned about the costs?
Be a part of the conversation that will shape Peachtree City’s parks and recreation for years to come by sharing your thoughts in the comments below and by directly emailing City Council at [email protected].