Trip #215 Oakley Way, Southside Slopes, Pittsburgh took place on October 28, 2018, and was published on November 21, 2018.
Oakley Way is one of the most photographed stairways in all of Pittsburgh. The next time you’re there admiring the mosaic, look off to the side, and you’ll see the remains of a much older flight that runs parallel to the present-day one. I wonder about this older stairway and why it was left to decay. I’m sure there are real, legitimate answers involving time, cost, need, and function. But still, it makes me think about our history. We see the most recent parts, but with time, the older layers fade from sight, sinking into the realms of the forgotten. One day, the same may happen to the stairs on which I now stand. And a future explorer may wonder how the earth came to be filled with colorful ceramic shards, what it all meant, and why it happened.
Field Notes: It’s hard to believe that Oakley Way is only the 6th longest flight in Pittsburgh! The bottom portion has Laura Jean Clayton’s mosaics and you can also see the remains of a “ghost flight”. Was that the stairs before these were built? There’s also a few remains of an old walkway that appears to go to a house, but I’m uncertain if it’s to the house that’s standing or if there had been a house where these stairs now are.
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!!
