Perimeter Perspectives

A Bridge to New Possibilities

My name is Andrew Mahaffey and I am working as a volunteer intern this summer for Perimeter Community Improvement Districts to understand and gain real life experience in the business and quasi-governmental communities that I can apply in my studies and after graduation. A senior at Valdosta State University I am completing my Business Administration degree in Marketing. It has been my pleasure working for PCIDs since late June and find this organization to be very extraordinary. This organization offers the Perimeter area communities the chance to become a World Class urban center with all of the improvements to local traffic, movement of people, and efficiency of basic landscaping aesthetics in intersections, bridges and sidewalks.

I had a chance to tour the community and take a look at some of the projects that PCIDs have been involved in with the Program Director. One project that really excited me during our tour was the Perimeter Center Parkway I-285 Flyover Bridge. The most fascinating thing about this bridge was how it was designed and the friendliness that I felt as we drove over it. This bridge was not only built for motor traffic, but created for the pedestrian to move within the Perimeter community. The bridge was created for the mom’s and their babies to take an afternoon stroll on the sidewalk, or the dad to enjoy a ride on his bike with his son or daughter, or the elderly couple to stroll across for a nice afternoon walk. As they take the daily walk or drive over the bridge they will enjoy the beauty of the beautiful roses, liriope and other plants that are commonly seen around Georgia which bloom in the spring time. Even though this bridge provides a means to get from one point to another in a short amount of time, it gave me the feeling of traveling in a small beautiful garden. And when is the last time you have traveled over a major interstate highway and felt like you were in a garden?

The dedication that the CEO and staff at the PCIDs to make the improvements to this community is more then impressive. As we toured and saw the improvements with the sidewalks, crosswalks, the bicycle lanes and the landscaping to the area, it is no wonder the Perimeter Community is one of the most sought after places to live and work. I know that when I finish Valdosta State University I will certainly look for my first apartment in this area. I want to live in a community that is friendly and has the aesthetic beauty that I can enjoy and be proud to say I live here. Before my involvement with the PCIDs I wondered who did all of this work and why Perimeter was a better place to live, work and play. Now that I have a better understanding of the PCIDs I would not want to live or work in a community that was not supported by a CID. The PCIDs have done an exceptional job with keeping the community fun, enjoyable and a place to want to come for entertainment.

I look forward to completing my internship at PCIDs and taking the knowledge that I have gained back to my classrooms and later applying it in real life opportunities to make our state a better place to live. I hope someday to be involved in an organization dedicated to serving the people and improving the quality of life as this organization is dedicated to doing.

- Andrew Mahaffey, Student