Field Lights to be Installed at Cribbs Field in Verona

Verona officials have been talking about installing field lights at Cribbs Field for about two years, and plans to do so will come to fruition soon.

At Tuesday's meeting, Council President Dom Conte said lights would be installed at the park, which is located along Second Avenue.

Officials have been discussing the matter for several years, and though they had been expected to vote on the matter, Conte said it wasn't necessary because council already approved the installation in 2010 with the intention of allowing more playing time on the fields for Riverview Athletic Association teams.

However, residents —parking problems, lighting problems, disturbances later on into the night and property value— and council brought the issue back to the table.

According to borough solicitor Craig Alexander, voting on the matter again would be an "unnecessary repetitive."

"We already voted on it two years ago, and it was unanimous," Conte said.

Plans call for the installation of —three at the first base line and three at the third base line with five to six lights or so per pole—along the field near the intersection of South Avenue and Athletic Street. 

The poles would be donated to the borough and installed by Duquesne Light, and the RAA would work to obtain grants to buy the actual lights.

Conte said he will be working with Duquesne Light to pick the best spots to locate the light poles.

Officials have stressed in the past that the lights are not stadium-type lights and would have shields to avoid overflow into the residential neighborhood.

The borough currently receives about $1,400 per month for a communication tower located at Cribbs Field. About $1,000 of that is donated to the RAA per year. The RAA now will donate that money back to the borough to help pay for the lights, Conte said.

"I'd like to get them up by the end of the season," he said.

What do you think about field lights at Cribbs Field? Tell us in the comments!

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