With 'Ravenstahl Field' awaiting approval, Pittsburgh City Council approves naming guidelines

Pittsburgh has the bronze plaque emblazoned with “Ravenstahl Field,” but it will take six City Council votes to officially name a North Side soccer facility for the former mayor.

Council on Tuesday unanimously approved legislation that sets guidelines and requires a “super majority” of council — six votes if all nine members are present — to put a person's name on a city facility or property.

Members contacted by the Tribune-Review were non-committal on Ravenstahl Field.

“I welcome a public dialogue in City Council about naming any fields that any individual or member of council would like to propose,” Councilman Dan Gilman of Shady side said.

Councilwoman Darlene Harris said the bill, sponsored by Mayor Bill Peduto's office, was an attempt to keep former Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's name off the Riverview Park field that he commissioned. Peduto denied the claim.

“This is something that we've been going over for a half a year now,” Peduto said. “There were two different (city recreation) centers where people had an interest in naming it after somebody, and there wasn't really a fair way to determine how to do that.”

Harris said Ravenstahl, a North Side native whom she often battled while serving as council president, deserves the recognition. She has the plaque in her office and plans to introduce a resolution to name the field for him. She said she supported the legislation because it gives council power to name facilities.

“This mayor was the youngest mayor. This mayor played soccer as a kid,” Harris said. “He created this field, which was very much needed in the city of Pittsburgh.”

Before Ravenstahl left office in December 2013, the Parks and Recreation Department purchased the bronze plaque for $2,096.50. Former city Operations Director Duane Ashley said at the time he requested it without council approval or Ravenstahl's knowledge, and later volunteered to pay for it with personal funds.

Ashley and Ravenstahl did not return messages.

The legislation provides two avenues for the naming of city facilities, both of which council must approve after a public hearing.

Council can vote on a naming on its own or adopt a recommendation from a three-member Commission on Naming Public Properties staffed by the directors of Public Works, Parks and Recreation and City Planning or their designees.

The commission appointed by the mayor is required to establish guidelines for naming or changing the name of a facility.

Bob Bauder is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-765-2312 or bbauder@tribweb.com.