Why isn't Mrs. Pitcher building this skate park in her community? Because they are bad for the neighborhood and she doesn't want it in her backyard. Hasn't anyone in Dormont Council noticed that there are people using these tennis courts every day? Adults who don't smoke,litter,vandalize,or cause accidents on the street? Kindly follow up this article with the names of the Coucilmen/women who approved this nightmare. I will be sure to vote them out in the next election.

If you like it or not ..the skate park is going in. Let us not forget why they fought so hard for this memorial. If you lost your children you would hold on and do what you could in their memory. Instead of wasting all of this negetive energy on what the park might become let us be positive and teach our children what respect is so the park will be well kept up. This skate park will be an outlet for a lot of kids. It is to late to fight on the negetive side of this.

Congrats to Ms. Pitcher and all of the volunteers and donors for taking on a messy job! I guess "disappointed dormont" hates kids, seems to prefer adults playing tennis. Some people just don't want anyone to have good fun and prefer to rattle on about things that didn't happen and won't happen.

Here is a copy of the motion approved by council on 4/5/10. As you can see, the motion states that tennis courts on Memorial are to be reconstructed, not rebuilt. This is going to cost in the ballpark of $200,000. This money needs to be raised and the tennis courts need to be rebuilt prior to ground breaking on the Banksville site. While this is a nice gesture and I am glad they are removing the poison ivy, it is a waste of money to do anything else.

Motion by Schmidt, second by Malka to approve the site at Banksville Road tennis courts for a Multi-Use Park (for skating, skateboarding and biking), with memorial wall to be built and gifted to the Borough by The Pitcher Park Foundation on the condition that all monies needed to build same be raised and the reconstruction of the existing tennis courts on Memorial Drive to be performed before ground breaking on Banksville Road may begin. Additionally, extra funds to be raised by The Pitcher Park Foundation to be held in maintenance fund for the maintenance of the Multi-Use Park. All ownership of said property shall at all times be retained by the Borough of Dormont. Roll call: Hodson, yes; Barilla, no; Lehman, no; Malka, yes; Lusardi, yes; Schmidt, yes; Maggio, no. Motion carried 4-3.

Daniele, you're correct. If I'm not mistaken, this was dictated to ensure that the 2 tennis courts on Memorial would be able to replace 2 of the courts taken out for the skate park. This, unfortunately leaves 2 more courts and a basketball court that will be lost, and there is a lot more to be done to those courts on Memorial than simple refurbishing... including a resurfacing.

If I were Mrs. Pitcher, I would be looking for private property with fewer stipulations, and perhaps use it not only as a skatepark but as a headquarters for a further-reaching foundation. I'm not against a skatepark in my neighborhood, but I think the government needs to worrying about other things.

I am saddened by Mrs. Pitcher's loss, but happy that she and friends had the fortitude to memorialize her sons with something they no doubt would have loved. Lamentably, as is the case with the Flight 93 Memorial, once Government gets involved, peeling back the onion and finding stipulation after ordinance after form to fill out in triplicate sends us all a horrible reminder; "I'm from the Government and I'm here to help you" is not a bad joke, but rather a wise observation.

At any rate, the deed is done, work proceeds, and those opposed should remember that youth will always, without fail, live up, or down, to your expectations. Encourage the kids who will be using the park, don't villify them before the first of them straps on his helmet and elbow pads. For the naysayers, I would remind you that you face problems that are, on an order of magnitude, exponentially more important than some children playing games.

It's a fine gesture and one of goodwill, I hope this is a solid but first step toward reconstructing the tennis courts on Memorial drive. Without a Council that will have the guts to re-vote and strike the idea down it seems this will move forward if Pitcher Park raises the money (Both Costanzo and Martino told me they support the skate park being built). I wish that those on the current council who approved this would have put a lot more language into the Motion. Such as - how much money needs to be in the "maintenance" fund, and does that include the new tennis courts on Memorial drive? Will we see new lights in the park because of the new tennis courts? What counts as "reconstruction" of the tennis courts on Memorial drive? What type of revenue does the Borough project from the new "multiuse" park? How many people will this service - i.e. where is the market research that shows demand? These questions and dozens more went unanswered by Kim, Laurie, Joan, Heather and the Pitcher Park group. Full disclosure - I live on Memorial drive and have been against this idea from the beginning.

James, I think you are putting words in peoples mouths. I also spoke to Valerie Martino & Onnie Costanzo about both the skatepark and the pool. Their comments were they did not have all of the details of the skatepark and that they would have to get all of the facts first before they make any decisions. NICE TRY ON COMPAIGNING FOR MAGGIO and DREW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am not a full supporter of the skatepark. However, my husband was a skateboarder (in his youth), as a matter of fact he was riding a skateboard when I met him. So, I am not against skateboarders. As a former skateboarder, my husband said - an in-door skatepark is much more appealing to skateboarders and can be used year-round. It also would help "contain" the skateboarders adding to their safety and could cut down on concerns with litter, noise etc. in a controlled environment. It also would lend an opportunity for sponsorship (to help with up-keep) and maybe a fee to be charged for non-Dormont/Mt. Lebo residents. Was an indoor park ever considered? I would be more inclined to support an indoor skatepark than one taking up green space that is used frequently. Just curious...

Sir/Ma'am - I am not campaigning any more than you are for Val and Onnie. I met both of them election day and was told it was "morally wrong" to re-vote on this issue and vote it down. That, in my opinion, constitutes support. If Val and Onnie have changed their opinion since then I am happy they've found the will to call for a re-vote should they enter office in January.

I have followed the skatepark and still after hearing great arguements from both sides I am still on the fence, I don't really care to spend my time arguing about something that none of us have control over at this point. I think that the only thing that us Dormont citizens can do is vote and thus far as the votes came back recently you would think that if many citizens were sooo against the park that Keaney and Lehman would have been on the ballot since it is openly known that they are against the park. People would have made sure that those people were on council to vote it out! Also if people were so against the park how did Laurie Malka and Heather Schmidt get voted in.. That is why I always questioned myself when anti-park supporters say, No one supports the park. Either way, I just wanted to comment I am not sure if many of you have been up there recently or ever but the courts are not that bad as people are saying. Yes the are overgrown with weeds , and Yes they are widely under used which is probably why they are so abandoned looking but in my personal opinion with a little love and some refurbishing the courts would work well for tennis courts .Also it says in article they are addressing constructive and draining issues . I think it is crazy to tear those courts down . I think people who are requesting to tear them down just want to see this group spend more $. Many non bias dormont citizens , like myself, are tired of these people tactics towards this group.

I have attended most of the meetings regarding this subject. My main concern right now is that the promises that were made by the council members who support this project and the Pitcher Park group are slowly being eroded. I will give you a few examples: 1. Council promised that the tennis courts would be rebuilt (without using taxpayer money) on Memorial Drive and that the community would not lose any existing recreation facilities. That promise changed to only having two courts replaced on Memorial Drive that may or may not have lighting (because the park closes at dusk and lighting is not permitted). Now it has changed to refurbishing courts that, Laurie Malka herself has said on many occasions, are unsafe. 2. At first a 15,000 sq ft multi-purpose park was promised (also to include a new full-size basketball court and warm-up court) with a cost ranging from $500,000 to $800,000. The size and scope of this park seems to be getting smaller as the clock ticks away. I have seen it reported on this site that the group thinks that they can build a smaller park if they cannot raise all of the projected funds and this is not the case. They need to deliver what was promised in the time frame of 5 years otherwise the vote is void.

All I see from certain Dormonters regarding this MEMORIAL park is vitriol, a word that NEVER came up in the vocabularies of Stephen and Vincent Pitcher.
The youth of Brookline, Dormont and Beechview deserve the chance to skate and bike safely. They deserve the chance to be trusted to help keep the park clean and nusiance free. When you give children trust and safety they can accomplish great things. And they can learn to be proud of the communities in which they live.

Keep making a federal case about every little issue that you can create. You are giving the youth of Dormont and beyond a fantastic lesson in civics. You are educating them about speaking up and speaking out . You are teaching them how to debate and defend their position on any given issue that may present itself in your communities. I think this is terrific and I applaud your vehement and unwarranted opposition as it just makes the case for our youth and the Skate Park that they will build STRONGER. Gives them the courage to stand up for their ideals. I bet you never looked at your antics as being helpful, did you? And so close to July 15. How thoughtful of you.

Keep up the good work, Pitcher Park Supporters. Remember: "If He is for us; who can come against us?". I have it on excellent authority that your works are keeping at least two little stars in the heavens a bit brighter at night!!

Shine on, Pitcher Park!!

Some people want it, others don't. Personally I feel more Dormont residents don't and I haven't seen anything to show there is demand for it. However, it remains a nice gesture to have that area cleaned up. I'm wondering why the Dormont Park crew didn't do it earlier. I'm convinced this is a first step because the current courts there are not regulation size: http://www.somay.com/featured/tennis/942b.html and surely we aren't tearing down 3 regulation sized courts to fit in 1 non-regulation sized court. According to Google a lot more people in Pittsburgh like Tennis than Skateboarding: http://www.google.com/insights/search/#q=tennis%2Cskateboarding&geo=US-PA-508&cmpt=q. Can anybody go into the park and start cleaning it up and making changes? Was this step voted on? Maybe I missed it. And I thought the money for everything had to be raised before work began? I'm willing to wager the questions raised in this post go unanswered as so many have before them.

I personally am not against a skate park; however, having spent my entire life in the Banksville/Green Tree area, and having received my swimming lessons from Dormont Pool, walking there every day in the summer, crossing Banksville Road, I can tell you that there is not enough room to park vehicles during the summer months when the pool is open. This is nuts for this area, and we are vehemently apposed to the idea of any kind of addition to this area. There simply is not enough room. The overflow parking in the summer months goes into Banksville Plaza, and that is mostly just the swimmers. Where would you have the extra traffic that such a place would attract (given the lack of these types of facilities)? You would have kids running everywhere; Starbucks, Dairy Queen, Subway, etc. Have you not thought about this. I would think your utmost consideration would be for the "safety" of anyone coming to the facility. Why are you so bent on putting this park here, an area where there is very little room. Please, for the "safety" of all concerned, along with the "memory" of your children, find another place where there is more room and less traffic. I am not opposed in any way to a skate park. In fact, I believe we should have more places for kids to skate, just in safer areas. I think you have made this a personal battle, and have lost all rationale for your original purpose.

Are the "refurbished" Memorial Dr. tennis courts the replacement for the existing tennis courts? Or is the cleaning up and "refurbishing" just a gesture of good will on the Pitcher Park team? I certainly hope the latter, because the Banksville Rd courts are a heck of a lot nicer and i don't expect any one to want to play a legimate tennis game at the Memorial Dr court. Perhaps, as i said, this is a olive branch from the Pitcher park folks ? The courts and surrounding area looks great, but i doubt anyone believes this is the replacement for the tennis courts.

To the Pitcher group: I support your idea and applaud your efforts, HOWEVER, I absolutely 100% do not agree on the location and consiquences surrounding the location. That being said, I would like some clarification if you would please. Cleaning up decades old tennis courts in no way shape or form constitutes a reconstruction. The language in the motion approved by council calls for RECONSTRUCTION of the courts on Memorial. At a bare minimum, the memorial courts would need resurfaced, painted, and striped. So, I ask this to any member of the Pitcher group, do your current plans for the Memorial courts contain such provisions?

Are the sizes of the courts being increased?

James Keany I heard what you did at the tennis courts the other day. You really need to let go of your venom and animosity. You are so wrong to mess with a grieving mother and her friends. The Skate Park will be built. Get over it. Go move to another town if you cannot be a good neighbor. Do not EVER go up to Mary Pitcher and intimidate or harrass her ever again. None of us want to see your storm-trooper tactics and snide and smarmy actions used against one of our finest citizens. You really are playing the fall guy for a couple of other posters on here and a sore loser from the latest mayoral election. Watch the company you keep. Whoever put you up to the verbal harange that you did to a friend of mine is using you big time.

And another thing. If your child is ready to throw rocks at an adult you must be raising him wrong. I am thoroughly sickened by your actions and all the rest of you who have been creeping around memorial drive this week. Perfect timing.

So sorry that you feel that you have to continually bother and harrass the good people involved with Pitcher Memorial Park. It is pathetic. Kharma is a bitch, Mr. Keany.

I'm deleting comments by Boris, who, it has come to my attention, may be attempting to present himself as someone else. DO NOT post in a manner that makes it appear that you are someone else. Real names. Other Patches have adopted a full-name policy. It will be more work for me, but I'm heading that way.

T Cap - your statement has so many factual errors that I would run out of characters trying to respond to them all.

Dan - real name is the way to go.

No, that part was right. I sense a disturbance in the force!

I find it amusing that no one has responded to my questions about the "safety" and increased traffic that will come to this location. I am not even a Dormont resident, having spent my youth in Banksville and my married life in Green Tree; however, I did spend my entire life as a child walking to the pool, crossing Banksville Road, and like I said before, there is no room for increased parking such a facility would bring to this location, yet no one responded to me. Has a feasibility study on safety been performed for the increased traffic in the summer, because for my entire life, the overflow from the pool parking lot has used Banksville Plaza.

I think that building the skate park is the best safety thing that can be done. Right now, with skate boarders having no place to ride, they ride on the side walks and streets. This being dangerous for them and others on the sidewalks and streets. As for the danger of them crossing the streets to go to Starbucks, Dairy Queen, Subway, etc., the SPEED LIMIT is 25 thru the whole park area. Maybe the public should be more responsible. I see cars speeding thru there every day. The Dormont police do the best they can, but can't sit there 24/7. They have the rest of Dormont to protect also. The speed limit should be lowered to 15mph even before the skate park is built.

Peevish...I forgot to mention peevish, Mr. Keany. Or, should I say, Jamie? I interperted your actions toward Mrs, Pitcher as harrassment. And I still say you are a fall guy for a sore loser in a Mayoral election.

As for the "go home" comments; grow up, Dormont. This is not high school. I think you do not want the skatepark because you do not want "strangers" in your neighborhood. Well guess what; it is 2011 and Brookline, Dormont and Beechview are going to meld into a great community if you will let it happen.

As far as all your negativity goes...well, that is just the way it is in Dormont. Small town; small minds. There are skateparks being built all over America. In fact, Andre Agassi is currently digging up tennis courts to build skateparks. Google it if you think I am lying. As you seem to like to believe all that do not do your bidding or think like you are liars.

Again, quit being meanspirited, peevish and stuck on sanctimonious. Dormont is a community for everybody. For heaven's sake..the PitcherPark folks are being helped by time donated by the Youth Group of a CHRUCH!!!! How can you find fault with that????

Guess you would rather your kids grow up to throw stones from their glass houses than get along well with others and have fun in an otherwise great community.

Good luck with that.

I am not sure I understand how asking valid questions and raising concerns is mean-spirited. I appreciate the efforts to clean up the old courts but this in no way satisfies the promises that were made to rebuild the courts. Our community deserves no less than what we currently have in terms of tennis courts.

Also, what mayoral election are you referring to when you call Jamie (that is Mr. Keaney to you) a sore loser? The last mayoral election was almost two years ago and Jamie was not one of the candidates.

Everyone is so worried about the strangers coming to use the skatepark. But lets be real, do you really think only Dormont residents use the pool, how many Greentree residents use the tennis courts. The playground I know has people from Brookline and Beechview there. I have friends from Upper St. Clair that come to Dormont and they eat at our restaurants and buy their cars at Cochran. Why doesn't anyone complain about that? And Danielle, the last time I was at the pool this week, I went at 1pm and I had my choice of parking spots and grass spots and you and James can be very mean spirited.

a very wise women & i were talking & here is just a snippit of wisdow she shared. lets all try this...
It’s always tempting to ignore or walk away from people who annoy or frustrate us. Those are certainly better options than engaging in a pointless argument.
But I think the real challenge of challenging people is to stay present and hear what’s so annoying or frustrating. That is the greatest lesson for us: hearing with an open heart, staying present with an open mind

This is how the entire campaign for this "park" has gone; nobody can speak their concerns or disapproval about the park because we are verbally attacked by people like Teresa. It is tragic that Mrs Pitcher lost two children, I don't know if I could survive that. People are using their emotions instead of logic to make decisions that will impact an entire community. I did not sign the petition for the park, and had garbage,cigarette butts and bottles in my yard for the next week. I have yet to see a response to Lisa and Daniele's legitimate, logical questions. Only childish rants from other women who refuse to address the real issues. Personally, I am concerned about the already-dangerous intersection by the pool's entrance. I am corncerned about damage done to pool-patrons' cars in the lots. I am concerned for the safety of the kids that will be using the park. There is a skate park in Scott Park; does it get any use? Does Mrs. Pitcher's neighborhood, Mt. Lebanon, have a skate park? I just don't understand why you would select such a cramped space, in such a hectic intersection, to attract kids on skateboards. I think it is a recipe for disaster, and I'm worried about the skaters' safety. This emotional crusade has not considered the logical/practical angles to this issue. Any attempts at a debate are met with open hostility and name calling. Lisa, hopefully someday your questions will be addressed. I've been reading and waiting..

You are talking about FODP, aren't you?

If you don't like the Skate park that is coming to Dormont, and you are so against it and feel that it is unsafe, THIS IS AMERICA MOVE. If you don't like the direction the Boro is taking then find one you do like. The skate park was approved and there are many peolpe who think it's a good idea. You don't support it move to a community that you do approve of, your taxes wil probably be less!
Why are you all being so judgmental that skaters are bad kids,is it because they dress different? I think you will be surprised that bike riders and skateboarders from all of the Pittsburgh area will use this park. Not all kids excell in contact sports and this is their cup of tea. Instead of judging them how about supporting an actiivity for kids. It will bring money into the community. As for traffic and vandals, please give me a break, these things have been happing in Dormont and every other community since the beginning of time.

First let me say I am not a skatepark supporter, I have no problem with skaters or a skatepark in Dormont but I don't think the current plans to move the tennis courts and basketball courts are a good idea. The skatepark should be somewhere in the park itself, that is my opinion.

That being said, I am saddened by the way people on here treat a group that is trying to memorialize two young men who were taken far too early. A grieving mother is turning her saddness around and trying to do something positive here. The comments made about Mary Pitcher and her group on this forum and in public are sad and disturbing. It is ok to disagree with the plan (I do in it's current state) but just say you disagree and move on. The harsh words, finger pointing and for god's sake yelling at a volunteer group doing work is all way over the top and should be saved for your private moments. Have a heart and give the Pitcher group some slack.

Well said Bryan. I too think that the plan needs a lot of work, but to villainize and harass the group doesn't help matters.

I seem to remember another group that went door-to-door trying to save the pool. For a while, their plans seemed to have no rhyme or reason. Many citizens of the borough wanted a Trader Joe's and shopping plaza there, but the FODP (many of whose members are the most vocal about the skate park) kept pushing and trying, and succeeded in their quest to save the pool. Give these people the same opportunity.

What part of my post was fictional? There WERE many people who wanted to see things done with the pool, which at the time sucked down money. I remember Facebook groups, people sitting in on borough meetings, etc. Also, I never belittled FODP, merely compared their grassroots effort with that of Mrs. Pitcher's. And above all, my post was to simply quell the hostility. Agree or disagree, many of us are involved in our own grassroots groups, whether they subsidize pools, try to fund skate parks, or push politicians we disagree with off of the Democratic ballot. To demonize one group and barrage them with hostility is just unnecessary. I don't agree with their plan, but I commend their efforts to clean up the Memorial Park courts. For a decade, no one else, myself included, had any desire to tear out the ivy.

And, since YOU decided to try to negatively bring my father into this, I doubt you'll find anyone to whom my father had to issue an apology, nor did I ever see my father making unsubstantiated claims in published news articles. If you're as good at listening to and representing the views of your constituents as you say you are, why were you ousted in the primary as an incumbent? Don't make things personal. You're playing with fire.

if what is happening at Pitcher Park is concerning to anyone please go to the upcoming council meeting and speak your thoughts to Council. If you don't want to sit through the whole meeting and wait for public comments you'll need to call the Borough building a few days ahead of time to be placed on the agenda and speak during the first few minutes of the meeting.

the problem with the Memorial courts in their current state is that they are too small. They are significantly smaller than those on Banksville. While the actual lines/borders for the court are, according to Kim Lusardi, regulation sized the apron, or area around the lines of the court, are not. if you play/watch tennis you see that the player(s) do not stay within the lines. That said, there are going to be a lot of broken rackets and people running into the fence if this 'reconstruction' continues uncontested. From my experience, unfortunately, Kim and others on Council are ignoring this issue.

So sad...70 or 80 people of a "grass roots" organization trying to make trouble for the rest of Dormont. Sad.

Mr. Lehman, you made the first move re: Kyle's dad. That was not nice. In fact, it reads as if you are trying to intimidate someone from expressing their opinion. I hardly think that is what the founders of the PATCH had in mind.

People accuse me of the same thing. The difference is that I call people meanspirted because of what they write on here and how they approach other's in the community not inside their "grass roots" circle of control and power.

There is so much more I want to write on here because I lived in Dormont and I know things. But it would be to no avail to keep trying to make people keep to the "treat others the way in which you wish to be treated". Just because I buy into it doesn't mean everyone has to.

Mr. Lehman, please re-read your words.

Thank you.

PS...Kyle...keep posting.

Empty store fronts, please.... The Dormont pool is a waste of space. My kids have more fun going to a Sprinkler Park in Beechview. A Water park would have been a great asset to the park and would have brought in money to the community. As for the pool making money, I highly doubt it.
Drew you need to say your prayers because there is no way you are going to be on council come November. I also suggest as a member of council you watch what you say in the public forum because YOU represent the BORO!

Has anyone talked to the main stakeholders of the park? The children and teens of the community. I know they cannot vote but they deserve to be heard as well. Just a suggestion.

Bethany, Pitcher Park has included youth in all of their plans for the skatepark. The kids in many communities have come together to work on projects and fundraisers. They want this park. Many more people want the park more than don't want it. It is just that the same old loudmouths have been running Dormont for generations. No one in Pittsburgh EVER wants to do anything new and innovative for future generations. They expect that their kids must live according to their expectations that have remained the same for " one hundred years" and will accept no plan for growth in their communities. Kids grow up in this negative environment and leave for good. And Pittsburgh suffers when it comes to grants and government monies because we cannot keep population levels up to first-class city status. So everytime a Pittsburgher says, "If you don't like it leave!" or "Go Home" to new and established citizens alike they are costing Pittsburgh money. And they are making it so that our future, children and young adults want to high tail it out of here the first chance they get.

Pitcher Park has included all manner of youth and their parents to attend all meetings and have shown design plans and had meetings for the young people and their families to contribute design ideas.

Thank you for thinking of the future of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County and Dormont by realizing who the real stakeholders of Pitcher Memorial Skatepark are.