Trip #135 Marvista Street, California-Kirkbride, Pittsburgh took place on May 5, 2018, and was published on May 18, 2018.
Sometimes, writing feels like taking a Polaroid. I can set up a shot and press the button, but then I have to wait to see what develops. Here on Marvista, the words I write down are fragmented and vague. I walk in circles looking up and looking down, and my thoughts are hazy and uncertain. Stairways are everywhere, there are five on this curious, long-forgotten dead-end street, but nary a human to use them. The handicap parking sign looks strangely out of place and is the only indication someone lived here in the recent past. If Rip Van Winkle awoke from his decades of sleep in one of these now abandoned houses, he’d peer out the broken window and be as pained and confused by the sights before him as I am right now.
Field Notes: This is another section at the end of Marvista that is truly fascinating. The raised sidewalk stairs run along either side but then join together with a little “bridge” after the street dead-ends.
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!!
