Improvements to the Glenloch recreation area are on the way, thanks

to funding fast-tracked by the Peachtree City City Council.

Originally, staff had recommended spending $12,500 this year to get

the kiddie pool there back up and running; the kiddie pool had been

closed for some time due to the lack of a filtration system, which

the funds will provide.

Council went one big step further, however, and decided to spend another

$40,000 this year for improvements that were originally planned for

next year, at the suggestion of councilwoman Judi-ann Rutherford. That

allows the basketball court and playground to be relocated for safety

reasons, and landscaping and erosion control measures to be implemented,

said Mayor Steve Brown.

The improvements are in part a response to problematic activity that

has been reported at the recreation area, which includes a playground,

tennis courts and a basketball court, Brown said.

After receiving complaints of underage kids smoking and hanging around

the parking lot, Brown conducted periodic visits to evaluate the problem.

Brown says he found, and interrupted,�a drug transaction in the parking

lot one day. It happened after Brown followed a youth who was hanging

out at Glenloch but not playing basketball or tennis.

As the young man walked into the parking lot, he approached a white

car that pulled in, Brown said.

"He pulled a wad of cash out of his pocket and put his hands

in the car," Brown recalled.

As this happened, Brown said he continued walking toward the car,

reaching the hood of the vehicle, continuing to stare at the youth.

When the kid spotted him, the vehicle quickly backed out of the parking

lot and the youth ran away, the mayor said.

Brown called police to relay tag information from the car and later

learned that person was under investigation for drug-related activity.

"We're not going to stand for that stuff," Brown said.

While getting a kiddie pool going doesn't sound like the ultimate

solution to curb drug activity, Brown says it will bring more families