Abel Long Playground, Beechview: 801 Coast Avenue
The Abel Long Playground is a curious space, sandwiched between (Roller) Coast(er) Avenue, where vehicles are either rocketing down or puttering up, and Cagwin Avenue, a quiet dead-end with a few homes and a large parcel of city-owned land.
While the playground surface material is reminiscent of a grimy, battle-worn kitchen sponge, the lush green hillside rising above is a sensory feast that beckons. The distance is short but deceptively steep, and upon reaching the space where cut-grass domesticity ends and feral wilderness begins, quads and lungs may be complaining!
From this elevated position, it’s not hard to imagine the slope covered in a blanket of snow and a youthful neighborhood daredevil sledding down despite the risk of a crash and burn upon reaching the playground. Despite the arduous climb, the lure of intense exhilaration is simply too great for some to ignore.
I, on the other hand, am not a youthful daredevil and, therefore, opt for a safe and slow return, zig-zagging across and down. Wishing that with every step, I had brought my hiking poles!
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City Steps of Pittsburgh: A History & Guide explores the history of the steps and the neighborhoods in which they were built. It also includes 13 guided walks and 20+ locations worth visiting—all with detailed descriptions, directions, and resources for creating your own urban hiking adventure. All areas of Pittsburgh are represented: north, south, east, and west. The book is available through all online shops (including our publisher) and local and independent bookstores.