South Side Park, South Side Slopes: 2000 Julia Street
South Side Park is deceptively large and offers multiple access points. Want to use the athletic fields? You’ll find parking near Julia Street and Saber Way. Looking for a community garden to energize your green thumb? Access is right off Mission Street. Hankering for an urban hiking adventure with stellar views? Trails are plentiful and easy to explore from the Sterling Street city steps.
The park occupies land formerly used by the St. Clair Incline, Sankey Brick Works, and other industrial enterprises. Considering its past, it’s incredible how green and natural it is today. But, just as it takes many hands, hours, and dollars to build a factory, the same is true for turning long unused land into a welcoming and enjoyable green space. The park amenities and trails exist thanks to years of community effort, fundraising, volunteers, and goats. Yes, you read that correctly: Goats. Local non-profit Allegheny GoatScape and their hard-working herd were, and still are, essential for removing invasive plant species along these unruly hillsides.
If you haven’t been to South Side Park recently, fall and early winter provide some of the best views. Depending on your location, your line of sight may stretch to downtown and Oakland. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the quiet beauty that this “side” of South Side has to offer!
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.