I think this great picture from the FieldTurf website shows just how special a Mellon project could be. It would provide a full size baseball field, together with a multipurpose field for football, soccer, lacrosse and field hockey. Multiple teams and sports could utilize this space at the same time with proper planning and cooperation. Lights would allow us to significantly increase the hours of use for the benefit of not only our youth, but also for adult soccer and softball leagues. Keep in mind this facility would also be about a 5 minute walk from the central business district, and would offer a true recreational showcase in the heart of our community.
That space is identical to Mellon. If and when this happens, I may just put a tent there and keep an eye on things from August to December. Thanks for your efforts Dave and all of those who spoke and attended last night's meeting. Additionally, thanks to those who were unable to make it but still took the time to email the commissioner's in support of field and park improvements. Contrary to the negative talk on some other blog sites, last night made me proud to live in Mt. Lebanon.
ReplyDeleteThis picture just replaced my kids as my desktop backgound.
ReplyDelete"Multiple teams and sports could utilize this space at the same time with proper planning and cooperation."
ReplyDeleteHow?
Of course, the high school baseball team can't play at the same time as a middle school lacrosse game. However, two Pinto or T-ball teams could easily scrimmage on the baseball field while one of our many youth lacrosse programs practices at one end of the multipurpose field and the middle school field hockey program practices at the other. The possibilities are endless. Thanks for asking.
ReplyDeleteDave Franklin
Thank you to all of those that spoke and attended the meeting Thursday evening. An additional thank you to the Franklins for their continued efforts in this matter.
ReplyDeleteI love the "Field of Dreams" and the athletic fields & community parks improvement initiative. For those who say this only caters to organized sports or youth athletics, visit the high school turf & track in the summer months and see people of all ages utilizing it. Visit Bird Park & MT Lebanon Golf Course.
Chris Sloan
Thanks Chris. You make an important point. People tend to ignore that a large portion of what has been proposed recently by the Parks Advisory Board and individual residents has nothing to do with youth sports. The items recently submitted to the Commission by the PAB include updates and maintenance to Main Park, Church Place Park, and Iroquois Park. They include repairs to the bridge at Williamsburg Park and we have even recommended completing the sidewalk to Highland Terrace Park. I realize that many will point to the recommendations for Brafferton as being driven by youth sports. To the contrary, this work was part of the Parks Master Plan and not the brainchild of the youth sports groups. The PAB acknowledges that these planned improvements make sense given the increasing need for field space in the community. Critics of recreation investments suggest that we should invest in what we have rather than add new. I would offer that the recommendations of the PAB and the improvements at Brafferton accomplish just that. The same goes for updating Mellon with turf.
ReplyDeleteDave Franklin