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Scott residents take issue with 12-year-old's lighting proposal
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Residents from the Chartiers Terrace neighborhood of Scott peppered commissioners Tuesday with questions about a proposal to install lighting at a municipal ball field adjacent to municipal offices on Lindsay Road.
"We were unaware that this was going to take place," said Sharon Clayton of a proposal made earlier this month by 12-year-old Elizabeth Evans to apply for a Duquesne Light "Power of Light" grant that would provide lights for the field that is home to 12 girls teams. Elizabeth said the lack of lighting limits practice times, increases the risk of injury and prevents the teams from hosting tournaments.
But Ms. Clayton was concerned about the proximity of the lights to the 200-unit housing cooperative. Other residents asked questions about parking, and whether nearby structures would be in danger of stray fly balls.
"The girls play as hard as the boys do," said Peggy Graham, who asked officials to find out the ages of the teams that use the field. Though Scott has proposed a meeting between Elizabeth, the commissioners and the Chartiers Terrace residents, Harry Edkins, president of the housing association, thought it would be better for the girl to go house-to-house.
But Commissioner Tom Castello replied that would take too long because the application must be in by the end of August.
"I wouldn't subject [Elizabeth] to that," Ms. Clayton said.
A meeting with residents is set for July 10. Mr. Edkins, who thought an agreement could be reached, suggested all lights be off by 10 p.m.
"I think it can be worked out, but it'll take putting our heads together," he said.
In other recreation matters, commissioners voted to keep Scott Park in the running for the Pitcher Memorial Skatepark as long as it could be placed near the entrance to the park where it is away from houses and close to the bathrooms. A site initially suggested at the upper park near the basketball courts would be just 5 feet. from some residential backyards, Commissioner Bill Wells pointed out.
Mr. Wells and Commissioner Dave Calabria agreed that the park has a family atmosphere that should not be disrupted.
Commissioner Eileen Meyers said public input about the skate park is needed. Carnegie and Mt. Lebanon are also in the running for the facility.
Also, officials recognized the service of four recent retirees -- Alan Ballo, Buzz Devlin, Jo Ann McMurray and Larry Smozna.
First Published June 28, 2012 5:30 am
