Moore Community Park, Brookline: 1800 Pioneer Avenue
Parks serve so many different purposes. They can be places for exercise, socializing, practicing and playing sports, relaxing with a book or some favorite music, appreciating nature… you get the idea; the list becomes as personal and unique as the individual.
And that’s what I like about Moore Community Park in Brookline. Although it’s not the largest of our parks, it offers many different ways to enjoy the outdoors. I stopped by on a chilly but sunny Sunday afternoon and found it a hive of activity: The benches filled with seniors and parents holding infants, a youth soccer game with spectators surrounding the field, toddlers and young children exploring the playground like ants on an apple, and a small group of tweens jumping and screaming under the spray park fountain (unconcerned that the air temperature was barely cracking 60F).
I gradually meandered away from the crowds, walked by the public swimming pool (opening mid-June!), and made my way down a long flight of city steps connecting park visitors to the baseball field’s stadium-style seating. At the end of the field’s parking lot is the entrance to the Landis Nature Trail. Not sure what I would find; I was pleasantly surprised by the 1 1/2-mile loop (downhill one way and uphill on the return, with a handful of quirky, DIY trail markers). I passed a few other people walking dogs, but for the most part, it was a solitary and tranquil walk, surrounded by tall trees and chattering birds. Even after years of living here, I’m still amazed by how easy and fast it is to transition from a “city” space to a “country” one. And on this day, the dreamy quality of traveling through a forest was only occasionally punctuated by cheers from the soccer field.
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.