The verdict: "Very successful."

Those two words from Leisure

Services Director Randy Gaddo summed up the widespread sentiment following

Friday's Fourth of July parade, which followed a brand new, untested route

and featured Gov. Sonny Perdue as a co-grand marshal.

"And it was a lot of fun,"

added Susan Taylor, who coordinates the parade for the recreation department.

Gaddo said Monday he has heard

zero negative comments from the community, though his staff will gather

this week for an official "post mortem" session to identify

areas of improvement for future parades.

One issue of concern: Crowd

control. Many of the estimated 15,000 spectators appeared to gather and

then bunch up in two particular areas of the two-mile-long route up Peachtree

Parkway South, while other stretches along the road featured just scattered

observers.

"I think what we saw is

there were plenty of places for people to sit, but for whatever reason

they didn't know about them," Gaddo said, pointing to the intersections

of the parkway with Crosstown Road and McIntosh Trail as nearly impassable

"It was so thick that

next year we're talking about putting up some kind of barriers,"

he said. "After the first military units made that turn onto McIntosh

Trail, the crowds all moved in and the police really had their hands full

from then on keeping people out of the street."

It took the first units among

the 2,000 parade participants about one hour, fifteen minutes to march

the complete route, starting near Braelinn Golf Club and finishing at

the amphitheater complex.

From start to finish, the

entire parade lasted about 2 1/2 hours, which is what Gaddo predicted.

Police called the crowd the "best year they've ever seen" for

the parade, reporting few if any problems.

No problems were reported from

the governor's camp as well, and only a smattering of homemade signs along

the route addressed the golf cart operating issue, one that is out of

Gov. Perdue's hands, anyway.

"He had heard it was

one of the best parades in the state, and that ruling has been confirmed

in the governor's office. "He was amazed by the sheer magnitude and

enthusiasm of the crowd."

McLagan confirmed this visit

wasn't the governor's first visit to Peachtree City or Fayette County,

and it won't be his last.

"The governor clearly

felt welcome and will return as often as possible," he said. "He

was very appreciative of the opportunity to be named co-grand marshal

with the military personnel. He didn't ask for that, and he was honored."

While confirming that Gov.

Perdue has taken no position regarding the cart ruling, McLagan said the

governor noticed a few signs in the crowd that were directed his way.

"What could be a greater

tribute to democracy, on the birthdate of democracy, then expressing your

views along a parade route," he said.

"It was a wonderful day."