Godfrey has

been the honorary chair of the playground committee since it began in

early 2000. He was then with Pathways communities, Peachtree City's prime

developer, and is now with Group VI. He is currently chairman of the Peachtree

City Development Authority and has served as president of the Fayette

County Chamber of Commerce.

"We are

very grateful to both of these well-known community leaders for accepting

our request to help us with our final phase," said Colleen Sugar,

who has been at the helm of the committee since its inception. "We

believe having their support will open doors and garner the support we

need to reach our goal."

The goal for

Phase III of the playground has changed significantly from its original

$100,000 to $50,000. The reduction has a practical purpose.

"We reduced

the budget for the final phase due to space constraints on site at Picnic

Park," said Randy Gaddo, the city's director of leisure services.

"The playground is taking up more space than we had originally envisioned,

so we are reducing the scope of the final phase."

Gaddo explained

that the final phase will consist of swings and a tot lot area for younger

children. It will contain the same rubberized surface as the rest of the

playground, and a ramp system that enables children of any physical ability

to play on the entire structure. He added that the reduction would also

retain more of a large grassed area between the playground and Lake Peachtree.

"That

open field is used by people for passive recreation, and we didn't want

to encroach any further than we have into it," Gaddo said.

The park has

become a very popular place for families and small community groups to

have picnics. It provides a scenic lakeside setting, has a picnic shelter,

electricity and of course, the playground. The city plans to run a water

line soon to add a fountain.

The All Children's

Playground was envisioned, designed and built to allow children of any

physical ability to get to every piece of play equipment. A system of

accessible ramps and bridges connects the entire structure. A special

rubberized surface allows wheelchairs or walkers to be easily used.

It was built

after local resident Colleen Sugar wrote a letter to the city's leisure

services director asking why the city didn't have any accessible playgrounds

for her physically challenged son, Jon, to play on. This led to the formation

of the Playground Committee under the Recreation Commission, with Colleen

as the chairperson. $100,000 was raised to build the first two phases

of the playground, and about $10,000 is raised so far towards Phase III.

Those interested

in making donations or in assisting in the final phase may contact the

Recreation Department at 770-631-2542 for further information.