Polish Hill Monument Park, Polish Hill: 3064 Brereton Street
Of Pittsburgh’s 90 neighborhoods, Polish Hill is one of the smallest, with only .255 square miles. As a result, the Polish Hill Monument serves as an informal “village square” while also honoring neighborhood residents who served in the armed forces. While it is classified as a beautification site rather than a public park, that technicality doesn’t stop it from being a focal point. Being adjacent to the bus stop and offering a handful of comfortable benches certainly helps.
It’s an ideal spot to meet up with friends for a make-your-own-adventure involving the neighborhood’s watering holes (three to choose from), coffee shop, community garden, shops for perusing records or comics, getting a tattoo, viewing the Immaculate Heart of Mary church (one of the most photographed houses of worship in the City) and its long abandoned school, exploring the many flights of city steps, or participating in the myriad of sanctioned and unsanctioned activities happening around West Penn Park.
Being at a crossroads, it’s sometimes busy with people coming and going, and at others, it’s empty and eerily still. Either way, it’s here for you to sit and ponder or chat with a friend about what comes next.
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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.