On any given day, walking into the Peachtree City Gathering Place, you are likely to see tables full of bridge players, a circle of seniors doing arthritis exercises, and a meeting of the PTC Pioneers Club.
At other times, the Gathering Place hosts community meetings, blood drives, election forums, wedding receptions, educational seminars, and civic club meetings.
The Gathering Place is our community center. Yet it was built 16 years ago when PTC was a much smaller community. In the past few years this wonderful space has simply become too small to hold all the events requested.
And our community – especially our seniors – risk losing the programs that help them remain happy, healthy, and living in their own homes.
Peachtree City knows the value our seniors bring to the community. Neighborhoods designed for seniors, the cart paths, and the activities at the Gathering Place have made our town one of the best places in the country for people to retire.
And with these retirees come the added benefits of more home sales, tax dollars, and local spending. Predictions show that the number of retirees coming here will increase and Baby Boomers living in the community will retire to greatly swell the number of seniors.
We must plan for the future and act now to expand the Gathering Place to insure PTC remains an active and healthy place for seniors.
This week, the city plans to distribute a survey to residents asking if they support expanding the Gathering Place. I urge you to vote in favor of expanding the Gathering Place. Let’s help our community center continue to make Peachtree City a great place to live.
Bonnie Mullikin
Peachtree City, Ga.
