From: David Donnellan [mailto:ddonnellan@mtlebanon.org]
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2014 2:32 PM
To: Concerned Resident
Subject: Re: letter
Mr. Concerned Resident:
The letter was sent only to residents living adjacent to, or in very close proximity to Wildcat and Middle fields on Cedar Boulevard.
David D. Donnellan
Director
Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department
900 Cedar Boulevard - 2nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15228
Phone: (412) 343-4519
Fax: (412) 561-6499
www.mtlebanon.org
*****
From: David Donnellan [mailto:ddonnellan@mtlebanon.org]
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2014 3:56 PM
To: Concerned Resident
Cc: Steve Feller
Subject: Re: letter
Mr. Concerned Resident:
The turf project has been presented at several commission meeting discussion sessions, which are open to the public. You may wish to view the commission discussion sessions on our website and/or attend a commission meeting. At the April 8 commission discussion session, the concept plan was reviewed. Below is a link to the turf project summary, including the concept plan.
http://mtlebanon.org/index.aspx?NID=2199
Since the property owners nearby the fields are most affected by the project, a separate meeting with them was deemed appropriate.
David D. Donnellan
Director
Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department
900 Cedar Boulevard - 2nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15228
Phone: (412) 343-4519
Fax: (412) 561-6499
www.mtlebanon.org
*****
On Mon, Apr 14, 2014 at 4:29 PM, Concerned Resident wrote:
Thank you Dave.
Can you please email me a copy of the letter you sent out to those residents including a list of folks who received that letter.
Also, because this is a public informational meeting, any Mt. Lebanon resident can attend, correct?
Thank you Dave,
Concerned Resident
*******
From: David Donnellan [mailto:ddonnellan@mtlebanon.org]
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2014 4:38 PM
To: Concerned Resident
Subject: Re: letter
While we are happy to accept input from any resident on this project, our intention with this meeting is to get input from residents who live next to the field.
David D. Donnellan
Director
Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department
900 Cedar Boulevard - 2nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15228
Phone: (412) 343-4519
Fax: (412) 561-6499
www.mtlebanon.org
*******
From: David Donnellan [mailto:ddonnellan@mtlebanon.org]
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2014 5:18 PM
To: Concerned Resident
Cc: Steve Feller
Subject: Re: letter
Mr. Concerned Resident:
If you would like to make a public records request, please follow the instructions on our website. Link below:
http://mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/2962
The meeting with neighborhood residents is not a meeting for the general public. The Commission and our consultants will be discussing the project at the discussion session on April 28. That would be a more appropriate meeting for you to attend.
David D. Donnellan
Director
Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department
900 Cedar Boulevard - 2nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15228
Phone: (412) 343-4519
Fax: (412) 561-6499
www.mtlebanon.org
Thank you Dave.
Can you please email me a copy of the letter you sent out to those residents including a list of folks who received that letter.
Also, because this is a public informational meeting, any Mt. Lebanon resident can attend, correct?
Thank you Dave,
Concerned Resident
*******
From: David Donnellan [mailto:ddonnellan@mtlebanon.org]
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2014 4:38 PM
To: Concerned Resident
Subject: Re: letter
While we are happy to accept input from any resident on this project, our intention with this meeting is to get input from residents who live next to the field.
David D. Donnellan
Director
Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department
900 Cedar Boulevard - 2nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15228
Phone: (412) 343-4519
Fax: (412) 561-6499
www.mtlebanon.org
*******
From: David Donnellan [mailto:ddonnellan@mtlebanon.org]
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2014 5:18 PM
To: Concerned Resident
Cc: Steve Feller
Subject: Re: letter
Mr. Concerned Resident:
If you would like to make a public records request, please follow the instructions on our website. Link below:
http://mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/2962
The meeting with neighborhood residents is not a meeting for the general public. The Commission and our consultants will be discussing the project at the discussion session on April 28. That would be a more appropriate meeting for you to attend.
David D. Donnellan
Director
Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department
900 Cedar Boulevard - 2nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15228
Phone: (412) 343-4519
Fax: (412) 561-6499
www.mtlebanon.org
I omitted most of the Concerned Resident's emails. Based on David Donnellan's responses, it is pretty clear that the resident was asking why he did not receive a letter to this meeting since the majority of the project is being funded by public funds.
So how many "neighborhood residents" will be attending this meeting that is not intended for the general public? You gotta love the community outreach! We don't want to be too transparent, do we?
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| How do you do this on synthetic or organic infill? |
25 comments:
They've decided which fields they're going to turf, decided they're going with artificial turf of one type or another, committed $750,000 of public money towards the project, started public fund raising efforts for non-public contributions, surveyed the site and now, only now they're going to invite the nearby residents to a private meeting.
Is this a joke or what? If those invited resident spoke out in unison against the project do you think it would stop?
Doubt it.
Where the Wild Things Are -- from Stadioum Journey Magazine. Be sure to the comment about FieldTurf!
http://www.stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/consol-energy-park-s356/
"Consol Energy Park, home of the Washington Wild Things was opened in 2002. It is quite the modern ballpark, having more of an amusement park feel to it. It is a nicely built park that should last for decades to come.
The field is built right along the highway, above the mall. It is also next to the offices for Pony League baseball and softball and some Pony League fields.
The team itself has been playing in Washington, PA for 10 years. They are an independent team, playing in the Frontier League.
The field is FieldTurf and really seemed a problem for the players. Pitchers were erratic and constantly kicking at the mound to try and get the feel they wanted while batters couldn't dig in like normal."
Consol Energy Park where the Washington, PA Wildthings play opened in 2002.
In 2011 it appears they replaced their wonderful FieldTurf with ProGrass.
http://www.prograssturf.com/WildThingsPressRelease.asp
"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 26, 2011
ProGrass, LLC Announces New Field in Washington, PA
ProGrass has completed installation of the Washington Wild Things new baseball field.
PITTSBURGH, PA, April 26, 2011 – ProGrass, LLC is proud to announce the completion of the new Washington Wild Things baseball field, located in Washington, PA. Using the ProGrass Blend Baseball synthetic turf product, construction was completed at CONSOL Energy Park in April 2011."
Hmm, this is a professional sports facility that doesn't necessarily get the day in and day out usage that our Cedar Blvd fields will and FieldTurf needed replacment in 9 years.
Can you imagine with the 'typical' MTL field care how fast we'll destroy this $1,000,000 investment!!!!
What David Donnellan doesn't take into consideration in his 3:56 PM email to Mr. Concerned Resident is that discussion sessions don't permit input from residents. Please don't suggest speaking at a commission meeting, because that is not the time for a conversation.
12:25 AM, there has never been a public hearing for this project. The vote on November 25, 2013 was not advertised on any mtl media, no commissioners' websites - including the non-elected commissioner's blog but did receive quite a bit of press after the vote, asking for donations to the project.
I am hopeful that Mt. Lebanon residents will do more than just comment on this blog, although I welcome your comments. Every day, there are more unanswered questions. The whole thing stinks and has to be stopped.
Elaine
I hope David Donnellan comes clean with the neighbors and talks about Phase 2.
http://mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/9816
http://mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/9614
90 parking spaces are to be installed in a parking lot off Cedar by Wildcat and the batting cages. The first installation was 30-35 spaces last year.
Here's the Phase II proposal:
The 2014 - 2018 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) (2nd link), page 45 shows "Project: Cedar Blvd. Parking Lot - Phase II", proposed by Public Works for 2016. Cost $299,000 to be funded entirely by taxes.
Under "Description and Justification", the following:
"In 2013 the first phase of Cedar Blvd. Parking Lot Project will be complete and provide paved parking for 35 vehicles. The proposed second phase of this project will allow for additional recreational parking and will accommodate an additional 58 vehicles with paved parking. It will also include the installation of a rain garden as an environmentally friendly method to control the stormwater runoff from the site".
This is proposed, not yet approved, but clearly shows intent and specific multi-year planning and association with field turfing, increased use and spectator attendance. The first phase 35 space project is in the 2013 - 2017 CIP, although not indicated to be a first phase or for Wildcat/Middle fields or turf.
The only way to add the ADDITIONAL 58 spaces is to remove mature trees and excavate the hillside, eliminating the buffer zone between the fields and Vee Lynn.
Elaine
The John Bendel Field Enhancement Proposal made by David Donnellan states "No additional lights proposed at this time"
Mr. Bendel promises to increase playable slots by 60%. That has already been proven to be a false number. It was revealed that all soccer games and varsity sports will be using double slots so that kids don't run into each other.
Slide 16 shows who is in favor of this Commission's project. I have yet to find anyone else in favor of turfing Middle and Wildcat Fields.
Elaine
11:38 - I think you may be misreading the articles that are posted. If I recall correctly, Falconi Field (as it was originally known) opened with a real grass surface. That surface was replaced by ProGrass in 2011. The Stadium Journey article in 11:16's post that references Field Turf was written in 2012 - after ProGrass had replaced the surface. I think the author of the Stadium Journey article used Field Turf in a way most of us use Kleenex - referring to any field type turf system as "Field Turf."
With that said, I'd be curious to see how long that field survives. I drive by that field on a very regular basis and see it in use quite often. It is used by the Wild Things, as well as high school, college and youth sports leagues. It is also scheduled to be used this year by a women's professional fast pitch softball team.
If that is true, I stand corrected.
I was under the impression Falconi Field opened with artifical turf or was turfed soon after opening.
It seems reasonable to me that anyone could attend this public meeting. Recently, the municipality sent out notices to residents in my neighborhood about street work and paving. I did not receive the letter but I live in very close proximity and was impacted by the work via traffic restrictions, noise and fumes from the paving that entered my home.
If residents live close enough that they will easily smell the fumes from the turf, for example, they should go. Many residents are sensitive to changes in air quality and it impacts their daily lives.
Turf is supposed to provide more play time, but it can catastrophically fail in a rather spectacular fashion:
http://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/4594945-74/field-southmoreland-turf
Mt. Lebanon uses the legal "within 200 feet" provision intended for really only zoning issues for things like this also - they don't want to excite the entire surrounding neighborhood to the point of encouraging mass opposition or revolt.
Thanks for that link, 3:13.
Isn't it funny that they moved practices to... ta da... a natural grass field!
"“There is water damage under the carpet,” he said. “We don't want anybody twisting an ankle. The main thing is keeping all players safe. We're keeping them off the field, even the part that was not lifted.”
Adams said the Scotties have moved practices to the grass field next to the stadium. Because officials don't yet know where Friday's game will be played, Adams hopes to get in at least one practice session on artificial turf."
Explain two things. First, how does Donellan have any authority to respond the way he did? Second, if it's public land (and it is) then how do they propose excluding the public (hint--they can't).
Mt. Lebanon is a joke. A sad, disgusting, not so funny joke. This crap started with the school board slugs who lied and cheated their way into debt. Now we have a commission following their example. This has to stop. Where is the PG? Where is the Trib? Oh, I've heard the silly rumors about Morgans having some kind of freaky hypnotic trance on the editorial staffs. But please, give me a break.
It's all honestly ridiculous. How the hec did we get here????
I hope Mt. Lebanon doesn't sit home quietly during this not for the general public meeting. As it was pointed out to me, Donnellan never said that this isn't a public meeting. He is saying this meeting is not for the general public. Big difference.
How did we get here, 1:32 AM? You'll see how we got here when a handful of people show up on April 24 for David Donnellan's information session.
Elaine
Notre Dame stadium is installing artificial turf.
Walt Schinoski
Walt-completely different situation. ND is a private university, MTL is a public school district supported by taxpayer money.
MTL Stadium already has artificial turf, what is your point Walt?
12:40
Forbes field had grass until 1970.
Once Forbes Field was demolished we had Three Rivers Stadium with turf.
We have replaced Three Rivers with PNC Park and Heinz Field where athletes and coaches are adamant that they want GRASS.
I guarantee Notre Dame will regret this decision.
I fear that the commissioners get away with turfing these two fields they will move to turf other fields claiming how wonderful those turfed fields worked out. Next comes Mellon. Then Jefferson's two fields. It won't stop till every field is turfed.
I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.
-Walt Whitman
-Baseball players
-Soccer players
-Field Managers
-Naturalists
-Kids
-Oops, but not the SAB and Commission
Don't forget they purchased two properties next to Robb Hollow Park. The objection DB had to Robb Hollow as a sports field was it had only 30 parking spaces. Could Robb Hollow be the next field built?
And Notre Dame practices on grass NOT turf! The players are over 18 and can decide whether or not they want to risk injuries playing on turf. I find this so funny as people in Seattle are ripping out their turf fields and replacing them with grass we are doing the opposite. But with the dangers being reported does that mean the township and the commissioners are libel for any injuries? Are we going to see a huge tax increase because of multiple lawsuits? Ask the kid from SF that suffered the head injury when he hit his head on turf. It's been something like 10 years and he can't read, can't drive, can't watch TV. There's a lot of Can Nots in his life... The soccer people know of him as they donated money so his parents could seek more medical help.
Why are we here? Because Brumfield's kid plays lacrosse and they travel east to play and see all the turf fields they have. So now we have to have the same. If Brumfield's kid played in the band we would be paying for band crap. Thanks morons for re-electing the idiot! Unfortunately the rest of us have to pay for your actions. And FYI Brumfield's other kid swims so we are blessed with new indoor and outdoor pools. And rumor has that his wife wants to run for a School Board spot.
Does Mr. Brumfield have superpowers? It's not all about him. BTY, I live in his district and he will get my vote again.
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