Peachtree City State of the City: officials tout infrastructure upgrades, recreation expansion and tech-driven services

An unidentified presenter delivered the mayor's State of the City for Peachtree City, outlining accomplishments from 2025 and priorities for 2026, including infrastructure upgrades, expanded recreation facilities and a focus on mobility and technology.

The presenter cited department achievements credited to city manager Justin Strickland and city staff, saying the city’s communications, design and sponsorship efforts now support broader outreach. "Our total number of subscribers to the Slice and the Compass e-newsletters, plus social media followers, now tops 50,000," the presenter said, describing increased resident engagement.

On finance, the presenter said the financial and administrative services department earned the Government Finance Officers Association award for excellence in financial reporting and described a "strong sustainable budget with healthy reserves" attributed to conservative budgeting and careful planning.

Several facility and infrastructure projects were highlighted. Engineering Services planned a remodel of Fire Station 83 and upgrades to the Cadron Fieldhouse and Aquatic Center, the presenter said. The city has begun upgrades to its 35-year-old City Hall, work meant to modernize facilities for future service delivery. The presenter also said the Kedron pool bubble needs replacement and that council authorized design work for a new structure to serve the two Kedron pools.

Recreation and tourism were recurring themes. The presenter noted the Convention and Visitors Bureau rebrand helped attract events, citing a partnership that brought the Southern Pickleball Tournament and roughly 500 visitors with an estimated six-figure economic impact for that weekend. A new Residence Inn opened, bringing the city's hotel rooms to more than 1,000, the presenter said, noting the timing ahead of upcoming World Cup soccer events (year not specified). Eighteen new pickleball courts at Mead were described as under construction and expected to be ready by early March.

Library and public program investments were highlighted: the presenter said the Peachtree City Library received interior upgrades and added streaming access to films for cardholders, while children’s programs and regional author events remain popular. Public Works earned Tree City USA recognition again, and the Kelly Drive Recycling Center layout and operations were revamped to improve service delivery.

Looking to 2026, the presenter identified priorities including paths and mobility (mentioning golf-cart safety and micro-mobility laws), stormwater system modernization and exploration of annexation to strengthen the tax base. The presenter said long-term regional traffic solutions will be planned alongside ongoing intersection improvements referenced in the remarks.

The presenter also emphasized civic tone, urging trust and civility in leadership and noting the recent walk for peace by Buddhist monks as an inspiring community moment. The address named newly seated council members Laura Johnson and Michael Polacek and closed by encouraging the council to work as "a cohesive, honorable team" focused on families, mobility and community pride.

The presentation was primarily a report of accomplishments and priorities; no formal votes or council actions were recorded in the remarks.