Trip #143 Dickson Street, Marshall-Shadeland, Pittsburgh took place on May 19, 2018, and was published on June 6, 2018.
One of the benefits of writing is that it provides a reason to do things you might not want to do. On this visit to Dickson Street, I was very tired and if I didn’t have a deadline to get stories and photos to Jimmy Riordan for printing (Issue 2 out in July!) I would have been blobbing around the house feeling blah. But instead, I went to Marshall-Shadeland and sat in the air filled with birdsong and the sounds of neighbors puttering about in their yards. A middle-aged man came down the stairway with grocery bags and asked what I was writing about. My response prompted him to enthusiastically talk about his favorite flight over on Perrysville Avenue, “Now those are really something else!” If I had stayed home, this simple exchange wouldn’t have occurred and while I still felt fatigued, I definitely was not feeling blobby or blah. In fact, replaying his words still makes me smile and laugh a little.
Field Notes: Another flight with a long walkway in between flights. This set is in good shape with lots of birds (and trash…)
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!!
