Today, famous skateboarder Tony Hawk is coming to Carnegie's new skatepark, built in memory of Mary Pitcher's two sons. Carnegie firms up arrangements for Hawk appearance
I am so happy for Mary; her vision has become a reality. Mary had come to Mt. Lebanon when Dave Brumfield was president in 2012. The deal was a sweet one. 85% of the cost of the $600,000 project was donated.
Pitcher Park going to...
Unfortunately, Dave's arrogance and desire to concentrate on field sports, enabled Mary to make an easy decision. I am thankful, however, through discussions between Dave and my son, skateboarders are now permitted to skateboard on sidewalks or streets in Mt. Lebanon.
Congratulations, Mary Pitcher and Carnegie!
61 comments:
The sports cabal could only come up with a lousy $255,000 on a $1.5 turf project! Hope they didn't work too, too hard. Hate to have Carnegie people think Mt. Lebanon people are cheapskates!
Bet if someone had wanted a turfed skate park it could have happened.
Talk about loosing green space. Skate parks are ugly, Carnegie can have it.
I thought it resembled something akin to a Henry Moore sculpture. Guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, lile asphalt patched, worn-out brick streets.
"It's all up to what you value, down to where you are"... right 6:58?
"Tony Hawk is a California-born professional skateboarder with a net worth of $120 million dollars. Tony Hawk has won Gold at 10 X Games, Silver at three, and Bronze at two. He is the first skateboard to have completed a 900 in competition and started his own extreme sports competition called the Boom Boom Huck Jam in Las Vegas." and he found the skateboard park worthy enough to come up it.
You 6:28, on the other hand, are an anonymous, self-important little fish in Mt. Lebanon.
there you go elitist 8:28! Because I don't make as much money as Mr. Hawk, I'm not worthy of my opinion! LMAO
Know what else is ugly? Ripping up a large green area based on a lie perpetuated by a bunch of fat never-have-been jock dads. Tony Hawk is in his 40s and in better physical shape than all the sports daddies combinded.
7:21, as a resident of Castle Shannon Blvd, I see the beauty of the brick road with patches of black asphalt and gray concrete. The real beauty though are the massive amount of colorful weeds that are growing between the street and the curb. But here's the key part...after a heavy rain we have our own sand beach down on the corner of Shady and CSB. Where else in Mt. Lebanon do you have amenities such as this?
Nick M.
No you're entitled to your opinion, just wondering why you felt your negativity was so important that you felt a need to share it and knock another community's efforts and recreational facility.
Be careful 9:05, laugh your a** off long enough and you'll probably disappear. :-p
Great logo! Very cool.
I was working on Forsythe this morning right down from Pitcher Park. I have to admit, it looks really cool. The folks who built the park did a good job at making it look attractive and when they get the lights up it should look even better during the evening hours.
Nick M.
I wonder who, millionaire or not, is going to travel all the way across the country to dedicate our "crown jewel" turf 9:04?
You just don't get it do you, 6:58/8:38.
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2014/08/25/tony-hawk-helps-open-up-new-skatepark/
"His foundation helped to build what is destined to become a popular destination.
The idea for Pitcher Park Memorial Skatepark grew out of a terrible tragedy.
When brothers Vincent and Stephen Pitcher drowned six years ago, their mother, Mary Pitcher, made the decision to build. She teamed up with the Ken and Carol Schultz Foundation, which provided the lion’s share of the $600,000 construction cost.
Miki Vuckovich of the Tony Hawk Foundation says the new skate park is world class, something we “don’t see too often.”
He predicted that the 17,000-square-foot surface would draw skate boarders from many different states, and different countries as well.
Jon and Brady Pitcher are the two remaining brothers. But their mother says the other two are never far away, guiding her way as she raised community support for a skatepark they would have loved."
But indeed 6:28, you are entitled to express your opinion.
Thank you, 9:15 PM. I will pass that on.
Elaine
6:58 exemplifies for me, an attitude that is permeating our Mt. Lebanon community, in my opinion.
Skateboarding and skateboard parks are not 6:58's cup of tea so therefore they deem it ugly, undesirable.
On the other hand, I'm betting they are a diehard turf fan and think everyone should want their plastic turf.
I guess if you're a family with young kids that like to skateboard and thinking about moving to Mt. Lebanon... 6:58 is telling you to locate somewhere else.
This blog has such potential to give a more balanced "other side" to things going in Mt. Lebanon and the South Hills but instead every single thing turns into a screed on everything that is perceived to be wrong in Mt. Lebanon. The post before this was about an apartment found with numerous cats that had been neglected. Somehow this was directly the fault of the commissioner for that ward and then within six comments somehow the turf was brought up. Really? This is what passes for discourse?
I grew up riding a Tony Hawk skateboard and building backyard half pipes, but I can also see how somebody may have an opinion that a skate park is ugly. I also could see how there would be concerns about the runoff created by the impervious surface it creates - and Carnegie is a place that has had some serious flooding issues! But just because I can acknowledge these potential concerns doesn't make me some kind of anti-skater fanatic, or a pro-turf sports nut either for that matter.
Finally, so what if this great new skate park is in Carnegie and not Mt. Lebanon? I now live in a house that is pretty close to a very nice new amenity and that's great.
8:40 AM, I have no problem with Carnegie getting a skate park. I thought I made myself clear on that. Carnegie welcomed the idea. But when you have a commission focused on field sports, that's all you are going to get here. For instance, last night, the commission voted against using unassigned funds for sidewalk repairs at the tennis center.
As far as a balanced "other side," this IS the balanced other side. You will not read anything on the municipal or school district websites that is posted here on Lebo Citizens.
Elaine
Elaine - the tennis center sidewalk repair/replacement item was ranked as the number 1 priority project in a list of 10 by the Sports Advisory Board (SAB) last month after the commission approved the turf project
Yes, 9:54 AM, that was pointed out by John Bendel. But who approved the turf project? The commission majority. Which goes back to my initial statement. We have a commission focused on field sports.
Elaine
Nice attempted save 8:40. Of course, Elaine's blog has such wonderful potential if it just saw everything thru your eyes, right?
And yes by all means, stormwater runoff from a 17,000 sq ft skatepark are a Grave threat to Carnegie basements and businesses.
But how a 110,000sq ft turf field and its paved parking lots are a greater threat and cause for concern?
Last I looked, the stormwater runoff from the Cedar Blvd empty to Chartiers Creek which runs througjh Carnegie.
Where in Lebo would it have been located?
It would have been in the Main Park, near the sand volleyball court.
Elaine
The basketball courts are there. They are heavily used.
No, near there. What does it matter? We didn't get it because Dave didn't want it.
My, are we defensive!
Elaine
More important - at least to the taxpayers of Mt. Lebanon - is not what could've been, but rather, what is.
What are we going to do with that $2 million invvestment on McNeilly that is sitting idle and draining capital that could be used elsewhere.
Are we going to pretend it doesn't exist forever, unload it or what?
Not like we have money to burn if we're floating bonds for infrastructure maintenance.
Mary Pitcher and Pitcher Park were featured on Pittsburgh Today Live this morning. The editor of Whirl Magazine was also on the show with Mary. Tony Hawk is on the cover of the magazine this month along with a feature of the new skate park. What a heartwarming story this is. This beautiful park, in memory of Mary's two sons, was accomplished mostly through donations with limited taxpayer funding - an example of a public/private partnership that actually benefits the public! Congrats to Carnegie and Mary!
Understand there was a meeting on the Dave's "Step 2" the other night. Guess it's true... Mt. Lebanon is getting an indoor lacrosse field. Will THAT happen at McNeilly? And will the School District still place an indoor field at the Rock Pile? Now won't that cause a rush on Mt. Lebanon homes from ALL those people demanding to live here?
1:12 PM, instead of Step 2, it might have been a meeting for Plan B. No permit for Wildcat and Middle Fields yet, is there?
Elaine
I'm new here and I've been reading all the comments and was wondering if anyone has asked why the commissioners ok'ed the building of another senior complex down by Keystone Oaks High School? If so many people want to move to Mt. Lebanon because of fake grass fields why not build single family homes on that property? Surely a builder would jump at that would't they? Also understand that same property will house "low income rentals". Why? I don't see USC, Peters, SF jumping at building "low income" housing.
From my "source" they aren't worried about the permits. Did the School Board worry about it? Looks like another bond doesn't it...
Elaine Will Allegheny County raise all our property values because of the "crown jewel" fields?
According to the usual PIO "call it like 'WE' see it reporting on August 26th in Lebomag.com, the turfing is a done deal and in progess.
No mention of No permit!
Also aren't there several mistakes in the numbers and facts. Here's what they wrote:
"The proposed project enjoyed widespread support from the youth sports community which is in great need of more field space and constantly needs to cancel games on grass fields because of bad weather. Many options for building new fields or turfing other existing fields were explored, but ultimately the plan to upgrade Wildcat and Middle proved to be the most viable.
Some residents expressed strong opposition to the project throughout the decision-making process, mainly sharing their concern either for the cost of the project or about potentially harmful effects of artificial grass with rubber infill. In addition to fielding questions from the public at meetings, the Commission discussed potential health concerns with experts both at Commission discussion sessions and at a forum held in June in Mellon Auditorium that was attended by about 50 people. They decided to move forward with the project, provided $250,000 in private contributions could be raised.
The municipality committed $750,000 to the project, and the rest was raised from from individuals, companies and sports organizations."
"widespread support from the youth sports community" - I thought a number of people in youth sports had a problem with the plan?
"Commission discussed potential health concerns with experts at both... ...and a forum held in June in Mellon Auditorium." i thought they couldn't round up a "health expert" for the Mellon dog and pony show?"
"$250,000 in private donations" and $750,000 committed by the municipality. Didn't the commissioners commit $637,4000 and then $162,600 additional dollars ($800,000 total and counting-it's not completed yet) to the fleecing... er...ah...turfing. Sorry about that slip.
It would be nice if our wonderful public information office could at least get their facts straight!
1:33 PM, yes, you are talking about Castlegate. The people in Brookline and Baldwin stormed the commission chambers over that. They said that we were not being good neighbors and pleaded with our commissioners to nix the project.
1:36 PM, yes, I heard the same thing. The million dollar project is not going to be a "one" million dollar project for much longer. It could be double that. Have no fear, 1:36 PM, our new finance director subscribes to the same newpaper that Jan Klein, MTLSD finance director, which says the market is right to float bonds. And according to one of my critics, we're in good hands as long as we keep fundraising. Dd you see Steve Feller come down hard on one resident during Citizen Comments on Monday night when the resident questioned their "spending frenzy?"
1:39 PM, according to Kristen Linfante, every house's value in Mt. Lebanon will increase because of the " crown jewel" on Cedar Blvd.
3:05 PM, there was so much propoganda in yesterday's lebomag article, I don't know where to begin. According to a RTK, there was to be NO health concerns discussed at the June 12 meeting at Mellon. "Andy" told us several times that he was not a toxicologist. A cranky Lebo Citizens reader scolded me yesterday for not sharing the "other side." Sharing the "other side" to what is published by our PIOs has become a full time job for me.
Elaine
Here is a link to the lebomag article. field improvements
You will never seen anything about Lebo Citizens on lebomag.com.
Elaine
Elaine, could it be that the cranky reader the public information office are one and the same?
I think we should have a referendum to change the Public Information Office's official name to the 'Mt. Lebanon Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda, because it sure isn't the office of truthful dissemination of facts or truth.
A quick glance at the headlines available on The Almanac's website that pertain to Mt. Lebanon:
• "Mt. Lebanon's Oldaker guides US Team to Gold" [congratulations Coach!!! Job well done.]
• "Mt. Lebanon creeps to a solution on deer" [yeah, it is pretty creepy how they're sneaking up on a solution]
• "Scores of cats euthanized in Mt. Lebanon" [eeeewww, scores of feral cats still roam neighborhoods]
• "Books stolen from Mt. Lebanon Public Library" [Geez, you can borrow them any time for free people, do you have to be so selfish as to steal them?]
• "Salary increases Mt. Lebanon School District Staff" [waaa, waaa waaa... Govenor Corbett sends us more money!!!]
Sounds like a real attractive community to move too, don't forget to load up on those Beerfest tickets.
Yep President Linfante, it's going to be a veritable land rush once that new "crown jewel" is finished!
To the 3 Commissioners who want the turf: you can't fool all of the people all of the time. YOU ARE THE FOOLS and everybody knows that!!!
I love how turf fields are bad because of run off but a cement skate park is ok?
Last year about this time, some dimwit started attacking the Brewfest while linking it to some unrelated issue. Here we go again.
What is your problem, 6:13? What does a fundraiser for the veterans memorial have to do with the rest of your gripes? Just take a few seconds and think. You complain about the spending and take your shot at the "crown jewel", referring to the turf. I've made no secret of my opposition to the project. Quite simply, I don't think public money should be spent on a project that will "benefit" so few while requiring costly upgrades every 6-8 years. The Brewfest is designed to raise funds for the ongoing maintenance of the memorial near the rec center. We raise money with the event so we don't have to rely upon municipal funds. So make up your mind with where you wish to aim your ire.
And as a reminder, tickets are on sale now. They are available online and at both the municipal and public safety buildings. I've been a part of the project since it started ( I think it's 7 years?), and it has been a nonpartisan and apolitical endeavor. I've met great people and had fun. If someone wants to criticize how we're proceeding, feel free to get involved and volunteer your time and energy.
There's nothing wrong with raising funds for the Veterans Memorial Mr. Cannon, but why does every charity event in the bubble revolve around beer? Can't we be a little more creative?
Mr. Cannon, I don't believe I ever heard of a Brewfest being held to raise money for USC's Veterans Memorial, but irregardless several ideas for your worthy memorial-
How about bringing in a series of reknown authors on something associated with vets, their sacrifices, achievements, history who would speak say at the Denis Theatre.
Or how about a Lt. Dan Ice Cream Night in the park. We have several good ice cream and yogurt shoppes in Lebo. Be cool to bring in the Lt. Dan Band to play at the high school stadium and pledge part of the proceeds to wounded vets.
Just thinking outside the box, with all the DUIs that appear on the police blotter it just mighy be time to cut the link to alcohol for a change.
Mr. Cannon, with all due respect for your military service and dedication to the veterans memorial, is this how things work now in Mt. Lebanon?
Someone doesn't see eye to eye with you - call 'em a dimwit! Go on the offensive, attack, attack, attack.
Try using your mind a little bit. The Brewfest comment wasn't a slight on the Memorial fundraising per sei, but rather a comment on why a majority of our community exercises revolve around closing down Washington and selling beer.
We have Brewfest, Winterfest, First Fridays, the Chili Cookoff (at least the main subject is chili) and I suppose we do because it works... they make money for the cause and that is a good thing.
The library has the Garden Club Tours, with alcohol, but like the Chili Cookoff beers isn't the primary attraction.
I'm also wondering why hold an event to honor the people that sacrificed so much that excludes minors?
("*Important Information: Minors under the age of 21 will not be allowed in the venue.Please refrain from bringing your infant /child to this event.") Aren't these the very people that SHOULD BE INCLUDED? That was the point the "dimwit" was attempting to make along with the fact that we have a lot of DUIs and underage drinking. Why teach our kids that the way to a good time is through beer every time?
Well, would you look at that. Two anonymous comments and both critical.
First, not "every charity event" revolves around beer. I can think of three, one of which now takes place at the library.
Second, so what? If you have some puritanical objection to beer, stay home. Keep in mind the people who have either been a part of the event or supported it. The list doesn't exactly contain degenerates.
Third, irregardless? That makes my teeth hurt.
Fourth, if you think you can land the Lt. Dan Band, go for it, and as I suggested, join the committee. I will say, though, having attended one of his shows, they aren't alcohol free. He also tends to lend his time for causes greater than maintenance funds for a memorial. He focuses primarily on the troops who are still around.
Finally, if you havent been to a Brewfest, why not try it? Aside from the various craft beers available, there is a live band, an auction and food. It's also just a fun way to spend a few hours on an afternoon. While I don't have hard data, I don't know of anyone over the years who has been cited for DUI upon leaving the event.
Again, like anything else, if you have ideas or think you can make something better, get involved. Doesn't take much to throw a comment online. And yes, I am defensive of this event. It's been productive in terms of achieving its goal and it's an entertaining way to interact with several hundred people you might otherwise never meet. None of us are involved because of beer. We are all involved because it's a worthy cause.
239. You tell me if thats how it works. Someone objects to an event where beer is served so we should completely change it up? This is to raise money for the maintenance of the memorial without relying on municipal funds. If you don't like the idea of the event but would like to contribute, please send a check.
Mr. Cannon you write:
"Well, would you look at that. Two anonymous comments and both critical.
First, not "every charity event" revolves around beer. I can think of three, one of which now takes place at the library.
(2:39 actually made that point Mr. Cannon, if you stopped to comprehend what they wrote: "We have Brewfest, Winterfest, First Fridays, the Chili Cookoff (at least the main subject is chili) and I suppose we do because it works... they make money for the cause and that is a good thing.
The library has the Garden Club Tours, with alcohol, but like the Chili Cookoff beers isn't the primary attraction."
Then you write: "Second, so what? If you have some puritanical objection to beer, stay home. Keep in mind the people who have either been a part of the event or supported it. The list doesn't exactly contain degenerates."
Also, Mr. Cannon, no one said they have a puritanical objection to beer or mixed drinks. Nor did they call anyone degenerates. Their point- "I'm also wondering why hold an event to honor the people that sacrificed so much that excludes minors?
("*Important Information: Minors under the age of 21 will not be allowed in the venue. Please refrain from bringing your infant /child to this event.") Aren't these the very people that SHOULD BE INCLUDED?"
I'm done Mr. Cannon. I wish your Brewfest all the success in the world.
Pardon me though please, for suggesting something else.
Elaine as sports season heats up parents are talking and many are NOT happy. Seems that certain people who won't be named bullied people into donations for the turf. As parents compare notes they are finally realizing how badly they had been had. Especially now that they see that so many sports will NEVER see a minute on the new turf and the fields that they will use are in worse condition then ever. Rumor has it that a under the table deal for an indoor facility was floated for their money.
Former resident who was sent this link because it hit on one of our hot topics: Lebo and booze. I first tripped over this when my oldest was in 3rd grade and the opposing team parent brought a keg to the game. All of the parents (including many from my son's team) are drinking beer out of red solo cups...AS ARE THE COACHES in the dugout during the game. (Game was at one of the soon to be turfed fields at Main Park.) My son and two friends quizzed me on the walk home why all of the adults were drinking beer. NOT a conversation I thought I would ever have with 3rd graders.
I wrote a note to the baseball commissioner telling him what I had seen and said I'm not raising a ruckus (we had learned in Lebo you need to fly under the radar) but asked that he remind the coaches. Instead, he sends my email to the entire board and it flies around town. We start getting the hate calls. Lovely Lebo.
The next weekend on a Sunday morning (10 AM) we are playing four square as a family on the hardtop at Markham. A large SUV comes up, takes the chain down, drives onto the hardtop (honking at us) and then backs to the field (where a baseball game is going on...5th graders). Yup...keg in the back and the parents come over and start drinking. One of them (we are now on the playground) points to me and screams "that's the fucking asshole who wrote that goddamn letter. Suddenly all of these Lebo adults are screaming obscenities at me, my wife, and two elementary school aged boys.
From what I observed (as someone NOT from Lebo), there is a HUGE problem with alcohol in Lebo. Your fundraisers are always centered around it. Parents in the Markham neighborhood would sit out at Halloween and drink beer while handing out candy to kids. Seriously.
Yet there are questions of why there are so many drug and alcohol problems at the high school. People cannot understand it and stress it must be due to bad parents or people from away. Maybe it's because the children model the behavior they see from the adults.
Mr. Cannon, please note that I am not picking on your fundraiser at all and I think tributes to our veterans are wonderful. What I am talking about is the culture that pervades the town.
2:58 I am not ripping on the fundraiser but concur with your observations, to a lesser extent in my experience thankfully. A parent offered my child rides to/from his field sport on Fridays because that is when parents have happy hour in the parking lot and she wanted to be sure that she was the driver so she could participate. Not only did I say, "no thanks" but I didn't let my child ride with her anymore.
I don't know how this has become about the Veterans Memorial, but this LeboALERT is perfect timing.
"Honor veterans and current military at Military Appreciation Night, 6:45 pm,
Fri. Sept. 5, before football game at MLHS stadium."
The BrewFest raises money for the memorial. I think it is a terrific idea. In fact, I am lovin' the new logo. That being said, young people, old people, anyone can participate next Friday to honor veterans and current military.
What I am concerned with, is the alcohol being consumed at games and in the parks and school grounds. This was discussed previously on the blog. Not good, people.
Elaine
2:58 PM, did you bring this to the attention of He who shall not be named, I mean, the baseball commissioner? Alcohol is a big problem here, but it appears that bullying is a bigger problem in Mt. Lebanon.
Elaine
Maybe Lebo folks should just call wpxi more often and get their problems solved through media.
Elaine, my view is bullying is pervasive in Lebo...parents and kids. We've been gone for a few years and when we tell some of our friends about what we experienced their jaws drop. As a parent, I feel bad that my kids had to live through it. (My oldest son and wife...the kindest and sweetest of the four of us...were the ones that were targeted.)
After we left, it took a while for my kids feel safe and secure again. They began to really thrive again after six months and at the end of the first year asked if we could go out to an expensive dinner to celebrate the move...their treat. And we have done that every March 31 since.
In my view, Lebo is all about trying to either be the cookie cutter mold that is Lebo, bullying like hell before you get bullied, or trying to fly under the radar. And I do truly understand that for many families it is perfect. But for an interfaith couple from the East Coast with special needs kids....not so much. There is much to like about Lebo, to be sure, but much that is just plain wrong. We miss our friends, but I am glad that as parents we had the strength to admit our mistake and hit the road. It is a very important life lesson that has not been lost on our kids.
*fading back into the sunset*
I put the bulling problem in the superintendent's lap. When a mom came to a board meeting to complain about bullying Tim was more concerned about her having his email than he was about the bullying. Turned out the executive board of the school newspaper responded to the parent is a subsequent newspaper. Children of school board members signed the response. I think Tim knows who butters his bread.
As a product of Mt Lebanon schools bullying has ALWAYS been a problem. I was smacked around as a kid by a teacher and when the one time I had actual marks on my body and my parents tried to fight for me they were told that ALL the teachers would support my beater and all my brothers and sister would have to leave the school district. Who cares? I remember kids at the High School eating oranges injected with volka and more. Heck there was even a "Smoking Area" for us kiddies but school crossing guards on the corner. Then any drug wanted was available. They even shot up a dog with "H". Mt Lebanon is no different now as it was then.
4:41 PM, I remember the smoking area. They did that because the old 2nd floor bathrooms were only used for smoking. Too bad if you had to use it for its intended purpose. They did eliminate after school candy sales because candy is bad for you.
Elaine
That Military appreciation is a nice expression. Perhaps they could run a 50/50 with half the proceeds going to the Memorial Fund and the other half to the winning ticket holder.
The Blue Devil Club does quite well with theirs and maybe they could give it up for this one night!
A 50/50 would be a good idea 5:50. We could couple that with bingo (or something like that) which does very well for fundraising efforts in Castle Shannon. Just a thought.
Nick M.
I'm not a bingo fan, but there are a multitude of ideas for raising funds for the Memorial if the powwers that be were interested.
I'm told the Castle Shannon Fire Dept. is the wealthiest in the state of Pennsylvania.
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