Trip #12 Ferndale Street, Homewood North, Pittsburgh took place on July 1, 2017, and was published on July 31, 2017.
The railings are long gone, and I’m surrounded by a sea of knotweed that grows, inch by inch, foot by foot, every day deeper and denser than the day before. Slowly moving forward and up, snapping hollow stalks and pushing leaves aside, but it’s hard to tell where stable footing begins and ends. Already the earth is closing in, reclaiming the hillside, forcing the concrete down and away. Soon, there will be no connection between these two streets. Reaching the first platform, I decide this is the end of the journey. I feel a moment of weightlessness, and it reminds me of swimming out to a place where your feet can no longer touch bottom. My head bobs above the surface, and I take in the ocean surrounding me.
~
Few things last beyond a lifetime. I navigate down the slope wondering if I have been the final human visitor to a place disappearing a bit more every day.
Field Notes: This is the first flight I’ve visited that is “gone” – it’s been overgrown for a long time. Maybe one could go up further in the winter when all the knotweed is dead? Couldn’t really see the start of the flight from the top (which is a dead end street with 1 house on it) only from the bottom.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
See the Risograph print of this photo and story in the Mis.Steps Shop.
Be a good neighbor! Have you visited these stairs and found them in poor condition or that illegal dumping (large items like tires, old furniture, and construction debris) and trash were abundant in the area? There are two things you can do to take action and make our city steps cleaner and safer for everyone! First, grab a photo if you can, and submit a report to Pittsburgh 311. All problems, both broken stairs, and railings, as well as trash and dumping, should be reported to the city. You can easily do this online or by calling. If the location has an abundance of illegal dumping and trash, also contact Allegheny Cleanways, letting them know the location and the nature of the garbage. Thank you!!
