VIBRANT UPTOWN WINS STATE AWARD Mt. Lebanon’s Vibrant Uptown streetscape was one of 20 projects to receive the Pennsylvania Downtown Center’s Townie Award. The center’s mission is “to advance the sense of place, quality of life and economic vitality of Pennsylvania’s downtowns, traditional neighborhood business districts and nearby residential areas.”
The first phase of the $4 million streetscape project, which included new sidewalks, upgrades to lighting, planter boxes and seating and more pedestrian-friendly crosswalks, was completed in August 2023. The next phase, Activate Uptown, a placemaking project aimed at improving public spaces in Uptown Mt. Lebanon, is in the planning stage.
ARTISTS’ MARKET CAPS OFF SEPTEMBER The Mt. Lebanon Artists’ Market returns to the Academy Avenue parking lot, behind The Saloon and across from Rollier’s Hardware, on the last weekend of September. Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., September 28 and 29, the long-running juried arts festival will bring between 60 and 80 professional artists and crafters, including more than 20 first-time participants, who work in a variety of media, including jewelry, wood, sculpture, glass, ceramics, fiber, wearables, mixed media, leather and metal. The artists will compete for cash prizes. The market is sponsored by the Mt. Lebanon Partnership, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the vitality of Mt. Lebanon’s business districts. In addition to the artwork, the two-day event will feature food, entertainment and a plein air paint-out for kids. More information at mtlebopartnership.org [1].
INDOOR TENNIS Rates are staying the same for indoor tennis players, but look for some changes as the season begins next month.
The Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department has taken over management of indoor tennis from Indoor Tennis for Mt. Lebanon. Recreation director David Donnellan and tennis center manager Darin Rauso met with the Indoor Tennis board to facilitate the changeover.
“They’ve been great partners, and have really helped with the transition,” said Donnellan. Subscribers will still pay $35 per hour for prime time slots, and $29 per hour for off-prime, while walkup players will pay $38 and $32, respectively. Prime time hours are Monday through Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Priorities for subscriptions fall into four categories: previous resident subscribers are top priority, followed by residents, previous non-resident subscribers, and non-residents.
“The goal was to try to put more residents on the courts,” Donnellan said. “Not that there was an overwhelming number of non-residents before, but … we want to open it up to more people.”
Users can book one-hour, 90-minute or two-hour time slots. The indoor tennis season is scheduled from October 7, 2024 to April 14, 2025.