Morrow Park, Bloomfield: 5325 Liberty Avenue
Morrow Park in Bloomfield may be the smallest of all neighborhood parks, but that doesn’t stop people from coming here when the weather is nice. During most weekdays around lunchtime, it’s common to see folks lined up for pushcarts selling all manner of aromatic delights, and benches filled with eaters and talkers, readers and relaxers. The nimble and flexible sprawl out on the grass.
This bit of mid-day enjoyment is possible because of civic engagement over 100 years ago. Hardy & Hayes was a high-end jeweler and silversmith, and a downtown Fifth Avenue staple since 1887. This letter to City Councilor John M. Goehring expresses their support for small, easy-to-access parks at a time when there weren’t many. “The trees are of so much consequence now, and with a stand and a few benches, this would make a very cozy little park.”
Places like Morrow Park are part of the energetic charm of city life, a little oasis of green surrounded by commerce and movement. While the fortunes and legacy of Hardy & Hayes would ultimately falter and disappear, thanks in part to their advocacy, Morrow Park has continued to survive and thrive.
Three cheers for Charles Succop and the Pittsburgh City Archives team for finding, digitizing, and sharing this forgotten but important piece of correspondence.
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