Arsenal Park, Lower Lawrenceville: 276 39th Street
Arsenal Park in Lawrenceville may take the prize for most fascinating history. The arsenal, for which the park is named, was built in 1814 and became a prominent supplier of Union munitions throughout the Civil War, manufacturing over 128,000 bullets daily. That productivity proved catastrophic when, on September 17, 1862, an explosion killed 78 workers, many of them young girls. This tragedy remains the worst civilian disaster of the Civil War. A few years later, in 1868, Lawrenceville was annexed by Pittsburgh, and in 1907, the public park was established in honor of the victims.
Over the ensuing 120 years, the park has experienced several iterations. After a long period of start-and-stop improvements, the area is shining brightly again. The playground and athletic facilities have been redesigned, the tennis courts are popular, and the benches, under giant shade trees likely older than all of us, are a lovely spot to sit. The next time you’re wandering through the neighborhood, grab a bite to eat or drink (lots of options nearby) and take it to the park. Spending time here on a nice day may be just the thing you need.
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