Upon further review, Peachtree City's Field of Hope will get its free

scoreboard from the Coca-Cola Company after all.

At the Aug. 7 meeting of the Peachtree City City Council, the scoreboard

donation was in jeopardy after council balked at signing a 10-year agreement

for free scoreboards at city recreation facilities. The agreement calls for

the exclusive use of Coke products at concession stands, and there was some

concern if a better deal could be made with Coke or another entity that supplies

the same service.

Council directed staff to seek proposals from other companies for the free

scoreboard service, which with Coke includes maintenance and light bulb replacement

when necessary. But doing that would take time, which the Field of Hope doesn't

have given its opening day is slated for Oct. 2.

On Thursday night, the council was asked to approve a deal for scoreboards

with Coca-Cola that lasts through December 2005. That way, the Field of Hope

can get its scoreboard issue settled, said Randy Gaddo, the city's director

of leisure services.

The contract was approved with a unanimous vote. Councilman Steve Rapson

pointed out that the previously proposed 10-year contract also had an out

clause that would have given the city the chance to back out of the arrangement

if necessary.

The Field of Hope is a baseball field specially designed to remove some

of the encumbrances faced by children who have disabilities and use wheelchairs

and walkers. The field has a rubberized surface and the nearby concession

stand was also designed with that goal in mind.

Adjacent to the Field of Hope is another little league-size baseball diamond

so able-bodied children can play alongside participants in the city's

Challenger League program.