It will cost

an estimated $250,000 to pave an entrance road and parking lot for Peachtree

City's girls softball complex at Meade Field.

The City Council

discussed the project at its annual retreat Friday.

The project

will require a stormwater drainage system and must comply with city landscape

ordinances, which increased the cost of the project, according to City

Engineer Troy Besseche. The lot would encompass 81,000 sq. ft. and have

154 parking spaces.

The existing

parking lot serving Meade Field is gravel.

Fred Gisler,

president of the girls softball association, said 350 girls play recreational

and competitive softball at Meade Field, an estimated 70 percent of whom

live in Peachtree City.

Gisler noted

that the project has been in the works for five years and at one time

a paving company had committed to doing the project for free. Although

Couch Construction had agreed to that arrangement, the deal was withdrawn

because of landscaping requirements, Gisler said.

Since then,

Couch was purchased by APAC, and officials at the new company have pledged

to give a cut-rate deal for the project, Gisler said.

Councilman

Murray Weed said he felt the paving project should be funded soon. Councilman

Steve Rapson said he felt it was one of his top priority projects.

Gisler reminded

council that the association has funded the construction of a pavilion

and batting cages at Meade Field.

"You've

heard the soccer moms," Gisler said. "Well I've got the softball

moms and they want a parking lot."

Mayor Steve

Brown said he wanted the city to discuss the situation with APAC and Fayette

County, which has contracted to do some paving work for the city.