Leslie Park, Central Lawrenceville: 4600 Butler Street
Like nearby Arsenal Park, Leslie Park in Central Lawrenceville also has a long and storied history. At the turn of the twentieth century, Lawrenceville was a densely packed working-class neighborhood, and Butler Street was the commercial corridor. For those who had the money, trolleys traveled to the Strip District and Downtown in one direction, and to eastern points along the Allegheny River in the other. Opened in 1908, what was first known as Lawrence Park provided much-needed recreation space, wading and swimming pools, and a bathhouse. For many decades, this was a place to cool off or get clean, especially for residents who had running water in the kitchen (and a Pittsburgh potty in the basement) but no separate bathroom.
Closed since 2003, the pool’s skeletal remains are a reminder of a past far removed from air conditioning, spa tubs, and rain showers. The park is due for upgrades to the playground and athletic courts, and some residents have advocated for the return of the public pool, an outcome which seems unlikely given the cost. If that’s the case, in what way can the City honor the site’s historical importance and the neighborhood’s memories? Such decisions are never easy, but I hope they come soon.
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