Esplen Tot Park, Esplen: 3150 Esplen Street
Esplen, in the northwestern corner of Pittsburgh, has a population hovering around 250. It’s a boomerang-shaped area sandwiched between Sheraden, McKees Rocks, and the Ohio River. Throughout much of its history, the land has been occupied by railway lines, but there was a time when the neighborhood’s two dozen streets were lined with homes, with the population high enough to warrant its own school (long since repurposed for commercial use, it’s still standing on W. Carson Street).
It’s unclear when the Esplen Tot Lot was built, but by 2013, when the city created the OpenSpacePGH plan, it was determined that the playground should be divested from the city’s holdings. This meant it was earmarked to be sold as a side lot, repurposed as a community garden, or allowed to return to a natural state (probably the worst of the three options, as “natural” lots tend to become overgrown illegal dumping sites). Despite that recommendation, twelve years have passed, and the playground equipment remains. It’s a bit rusty and careworn but still functional. A few “Go Slow” signs shaped like a young child wearing a hat have been placed on the sidewalk near the park. The three nearby houses look vibrantly occupied with potted and hanging plants, yard sculptures, patio furniture, and toys.
Sometimes, a lack of follow-through can be a good thing.
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