Land has been

set aside for a special needs baseball field at Peachtree City's baseball

and softball complex on Ga. Highway 74 south.

At its meeting

last week, the City Council unanimously approved a proposal to earmark

the field for the special needs complex proposed by local resident Nick

Harris, who is the commissioner of the city's Challenger League. Harris

said the "Field of Hope" would be constructed with money from

donations, and he estimated that approximately $600,000 would need to

be raised.

Harris said

he hopes the field will be ready to play on by the spring of 2002.

The field would

be the size of a little league field and would have a flat padded astroturf

to allow the players to maneuver easier, Harris said. When it rains even

a little, games have to be cancelled because children in walkers and wheelchairs

can't handle the terrain, he added.

Maintenance

of the field would involve brushing off the water when it rains, Harris

said.

The field would

be similar to one in Conyers which was the first-ever special needs baseball

field built in the country, Harris said.

Currently,

some special needs youths in Peachtree City travel elsewhere to participate

in baseball, he added.

"There

are 2,300 [disabled] children in Fayette County, and currently I have

only 30 players," Harris said. "We have some kids in Fayette

County going to play in Conyers."

The youths

play with "buddies" who help them field, bat and throw the ball,

Harris said.

The field could

also be used by the city's little league teams, Harris added.

Harris's proposal

also included construction of concession stands that will be handicapped

accessible with lower service windows.