Plans for Lighting at Cribbs Field on Hold for Now

Verona Council has agreed to hold off on installing lighting at Cribbs Field on Second Avenue.

Officials previously had agreed to install light poles around the field near the intersection of South Avenue and Athletic Street, but because there was some opposition by residents, they held a special meeting this month to discuss the issue.

There would be about six light poles—three at the first base line and three at the third base line with five lights or so per pole. Officials stressed the lights are not stadium-type lights and would have shields to avoid overflow into the residential neighborhood.

Councilwoman Sandra Drabicki-Bell said it would be a good idea to take the residents' concerns—which include parking problems, lighting problems, loud noises, disturbances later on into the night, liability and the legality of the installation—and discuss them with borough solicitor Craig Alexander before making an immediate decision.

Councilwoman Rhoda Gemellas-Worf agreed. She said at this point, it'd be best to hold off until the spring and to see if lights will be installed at Riverside Park in Oakmont during its renovation.

Councilwoman Peggy Suchevich said she's concerned that donation offers that currently are on the table won't be available at a later date. Officials had said the poles would be donated to the borough and installed by Duquesne Light, and the Riverview Athletic Association would work to obtain grants to buy the actual lights.

Second Avenue resident Al Raimondi, who addressed council at the special meeting earlier this month, maintained that it wouldn't be a good idea to install lights in the residential neighborhood. He said he got 16 signatures on a petition he circulated around the immediate area.