57th Street Playground, Upper Lawrenceville: 49 57th Street
The final riverfront section of Upper Lawrenceville, between 57th and 62nd Streets, was once known for its steel mill and heavy industry. That hasn’t all disappeared: an Allegheny Valley Railroad freight line cuts through, there’s a petroleum storage and distribution terminal formerly owned by Sunoco (known for its long history of compliance issues), a cold storage warehouse, a UPMC employee parking lot, and a handful of smaller businesses tucked into the narrow side streets.
The land had been Standard Oil’s property since 1868, with an industrial-sized coal bin occupying the spot where the playground and ball field were constructed in the 1960s. Today, the park gets some use, with workers eating lunch at the picnic tables and benches, using their phones, or walking dogs. I don’t doubt that kids played here 50 years ago, but I have to wonder how many children still live nearby. That very quality may make it appealing for someone looking for a quiet place to play.
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