The Almanac: ML residents oppose turfing fields

Mt. Lebanon is considering an upgrade to the municipality’s athletic fields, but the idea does not please some Mt. Lebanon residents.

At the commissioners meeting July 10, residents spoke against plans to lay artificial turf on two connecting fields to Dixon Field called Wildcat and Middle fields. The fields are directly next to each other and across the parking lot from Dixon Field. According to commissioner Kristen Linfante, the turfed fields combined would make for a large single, multi-purpose field that could accommodate multiple sports at any given time. The fields, used by the Mt. Lebanon Baseball Association and the Mt. Lebanon Girls Softball Association, currently have grass.

Read the full article:

• www.thealmanac.net/alm/story11/07-19-2012-Ml-fields (The Almanac)

P-G: Advertisements coming to school, municipal fields in Mt. Lebanon

A regulation passed Tuesday night in Mt. Lebanon will allow advertising at the municipality's athletic fields and school stadiums.

Over the past month, residents have turned out at meetings to discuss the poor state of neighborhood parks and fields and how the municipality is going to pay for improvements. Many of them agree that selling ad space is a way to fund those projects without raising taxes.

Dave Franklin, a Mt. Lebanon resident supporting the regulation and a board member on various athletic associations in the municipality, started the blog "Lebo Fields" last month to keep the discussion going after the meetings.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/advertisements-coming-to-school-municipal-fields-in-mt-lebanon-635300 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Trib: Advertising considered to pay for Mt. Lebanon programs

Mt. Lebanon might allow sign advertising at school fields, stadiums and parks for the first time in its 100-year history, as it tries to find ways to pay for maintenance and upgrades of athletic space.

Commissioners heard from the public at meetings on last Thursday and Monday, and they are not expected to vote before May 8.

Some see allowing businesses to buy advertising around fields at parks and schools as a way to usher in revenue similar to what Cranberry did, granting naming rights for a 105-acre park to Dick's Sporting Goods in 2009. The retailer committed $2.2 million over 10 years for the development of the $9 million park, named Dick's Sporting Goods Sportsplex at Graham Park. A 10 foot-tall sign at the park can be seen from the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Cranberry Manager Jerry Andree said.

Read the full article:

• www.triblive.com/neighborhoods/yoursouthhills/1151369-87/lebanon-fields-commissioners-million-advertising-board-park-adding-budget-businesses (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

New Blog: Lebo Fields

Mt. Lebanon resident and frequent blog commenter Dave Franklin has launched a new blog called "Lebo Fields" to serve as a place for people to share opinions and ideas about the recreation facilities in town. Please stop by the blog to join in the discussion.

Link: lebofields.blogspot.com

Patch: McNeilly Park Presents Flood Concerns

At a Baldwin Township Board of Commissioners meeting in October, Baldwin Township officials expressed concerns over plans by Mt. Lebanon officials to build an outdoor athletics complex on the wooded property between Queensboro Avenue and McNeilly Road, which sits on the Mt. Lebanon-Baldwin Township border. The property would be known as McNeilly Park.

Baldwin Township officials’ concerns carried over into Tuesday night’s meeting, as well.

Read the full article:

• baldwin-whitehall.patch.com/articles/proposed-athletics-complex-presents-flood-concerns-fire-department-needs-more-volunteers-and-more-nov-1-baldwin-township-meeting-notes (Baldwin-Whitehall Patch)

Commissioner Miller's Resolution Regarding Our Parks and Fields

UPDATE: The resolution was defeated during Monday night's meeting.

Dan Miller, the 5th Ward Commissioner, recently posted the following blog entry on his web site. It contains information about a resolution that he introduced at this evening's Commission meeting regarding the issuance of bonds to fund development of the McNeilly Road property as well as improvements to the pool, Main Park and Bird Park.

Read the full posting:

• www.danmillerward5.com/pool-and-fields-resolution

Patch: More Details Available of Mt. Lebanon-Baldwin Twp. Athletics Complex

Although Mt. Lebanon's newly planned and approximately 23-acre-large "McNeilly Park" athletics complex will include "less than probably even a quarter of an acre" of Baldwin Township land—according to Mt. Lebanon's Municipal Planner Keith McGill—some Baldwin Township officials and other area municipal leaders have still expressed concern over how the park will affect non-Mt. Lebanonites.

Read the full article:

• baldwin-whitehall.patch.com/articles/more-details-available-of-mt-lebanon-baldwin-twp-athletics-complex (Baldwin-Whitehall Patch)

Trib: Mt. Lebanon athletics boosters make big pitch for bond issue

Mt. Lebanon athletic boosters brought their best offense to the board of commissioners Monday to advocate for the passage of a $6 million to $7 million bond for pool improvements and construction of new athletic fields.

Commissioners didn't vote, but dozens of coaches and athletes came to the microphone during the public comment period to say that the community could use the improvements -- though a few in opposition said the time was not right to spend more money on amenities.

Read the full article:

• www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_753168.html (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Fields and Pools Update

5th Ward Commissioner Dan Miller has published a lengthy post on his web site regarding the proposed improvements to our athletic facilities and pools.

Link: www.danmillerward5.com/commissioner-miller-fields-and-pool-update