Cowley Park & Playground, Troy Hill: 1200 Goettmann Street
From the first breath to the last, we’re always on the move—growing, adapting, and shifting. Even when we’re physically still, resting, or “doing nothing,” subtle (or not-so-subtle) transformation occurs. When it comes to changing a parcel of land, the history of Cowley Park & Playground shows a stunning metamorphosis that rivals the former graveyard-now ballpark at nearby Gardner Field.
If we travel back to 1855, we’d see a hilltop reservoir (visit Citizens’ Park to see the original stone slabs that lined the basin). Then, in 1862, a small oil refinery opened shop next door. I can’t imagine that was a positive development for water quality. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before the well ran dry, and from 1870 to 1890, streets and houses appeared, many of which still stand today. However, the most significant change to this hilltop is attributed to the work of educator and playground advocate Mary J. Cowley, who formed the Playground Vacation School Association of Allegheny with a group of like-minded women in 1900. Despite a lot of skepticism and push-back from politicians, school leaders, and the public, her group was responsible for establishing 40 playgrounds in north side neighborhoods by the late 1930s.
Like the skyscrapers that sprouted along the horizon, the features at Cowley Park & Playground have changed over the decades. Today, the neighborhood is not so patiently waiting for the original community building to be reconstructed. Plans have been in the works for years, and progress has been slow. But I don’t doubt that Mary Cowley’s tenacious spirit is ever-present, always on the move when there’s work to do.
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