Robert E. Williams Park, Upper Hill: 3447 Milwaukee Street
Williams Park, at 1,260 feet above sea level, is one of the highest elevations in Pittsburgh and is named after the City’s first Black magistrate. Given its location, it’s not surprising that a reservoir was installed here in 1880 to support the primary facility in Highland Park. A decade later, then-Director of Public Works Edward Manning Bigelow set his sights on creating a smaller version of Highland Park here, but beyond the stone-slab city steps and retaining walls, little in the way of landscaping grandeur appeared.
Below the reservoir is a neighborhood playground and community building, but what often draws people is the asphalt path that circles the covered basin. It’s a simple walk, but a good place to take in the true beauty of the location: an incredible 360-degree panorama, especially in the months when the nearby trees have dropped their leaves. You’ll be amazed by how far and wide you can see!
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.
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