Ammon Park and Rec Center, Bedford Dwellings: 2217 Bedford Avenue
Bedford Avenue has experienced many changes over the last century, some welcome, some not. Located near the center of Bedford’s 2-mile stretch, Ammon Park offers a public swimming pool, athletic fields, a playground, and a CITIParks recreation center with after-school and summer programming, a weight room, and activities for all ages.
From 1931 to 1938, this area was Greenlee Field, home to the Pittsburgh Crawfords Negro League baseball team. Greenlee was the first and only major baseball stadium in the East designed, built, and owned by an African American. Today, great expanses of Bedford Avenue are under construction for new housing. If all goes as anticipated, affordable and market-rate apartments will be ready next year, with more new units added each year through 2031. The entire Hill District’s population is a little under 12,000 today, compared to nearly 54,000 in 1950. The 800 new apartments won’t fix every issue, but it’s a step in the right direction. Easy access to public parks and recreational spaces makes it even more appealing.
Love Pittsburgh’s City Steps? Get a Copy of the NEW Book!
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.