The latest

Peachtree City recreation survey is history, and the

results are mixed at best.

"There

was no clear mandate," as leisure services director

Randy Gaddo put it during Monday night's Recreation

Commission meeting.

Indeed,

with 15 different categories on the survey rated from

zero to four by each participant, the most highly

regarded categories average slightly above two -

below the department's own criteria for need of a

particular service or facility.

A total of

704 surveys were sent in by mail or through the city's

web site, which Gaddo said was equal to about 10 percent

of Peachtree City households. "That's a pretty good

response," he said, noting that 2-4 percent is often

considered acceptable in these situations.

But the

commission was not very happy with the response or the

results. Dan Wright pointed out that many of those who

did take the time to respond did not fill out the survey

completely, which can skew the results.

"This

shows there's not a big push to add a lot of stuff,"

said Wright.

The purpose

of the survey was to identify and prioritize needed items

included in the current recreation master plan. The

commission also was looking at the results to help gauge

the feasibility of passing a bond referendum for

recreation needs in the city.

Survey

items were rated on the following scale:

4 -

crucial

3 -

necessary

2 -

would be nice

1 -

not necessary

0 -

forget it

When all

scores were added up, the Frederick Brown Jr.

Amphitheater averaged a 2.39, while the proposed

community center had a 2.35 average. The only other

categories above an overall two rating were playground

(2.06) and picnic (2.04).

Other

general categories on the survey included baseball,

soccer, football, softball, gymnastics, basketball and

tennis. Also listed were capital improvement projects

such as an all-purpose rink and the Gathering Place,

along with gazebos and playfields.

The overall

survey was split into two main categories - with or

without the community center. The average score with the

center was 2.13, compared to 1.94 without it.

A few

hundred general comments submitted by residents were

attached to the survey results submitted at the

Recreation Commission meeting. They were almost as

diverse as possible given the number of people who

participated.

The most

popular single item on the comment list was the possible

purchase of the current Braelinn Baptist Church campus

for an additional recreation facility. At least a dozen

people said that was a good idea.

But the

other suggestions were all over the board, and many

simply said that they had no desire to see any more of

their tax dollars going toward the kinds of things listed

on the survey.

"I

don't know anyone who has a warm and fuzzy feeling about

a bond referendum for recreation at this time," said

commission Chairman Earl Spell.

What

complicates the bond issue is the fact that other needs

in Fayette County, such as jail expansion and overall

Board of Education items, are currently being considered

as motivation for either a bond referendum or a sales tax

hike, Spell said.

If any

specific item is placed on a bond referendum and then

defeated at the ballot box, it cannot be reconsidered in

this manner for at least three years, the commission

reported.

The

commission directed staff to revise the priority list on

the recreation master plan with updated cost estimates,

including the survey results and items that can possibly

be funded through the Public Improvement Program, to be

submitted to the commission in August.

An approved

plan will then be forwarded to the City Council in

September, with the recommendation that a bond referendum

be considered in the future.

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