Trip #424 Thornton Street, Sheraden, Pittsburgh took place on March 28, 2020, and was published on April 10, 2020.
The stairs lead down to a playground – a playground that’s now roped off and off-limits. As I wander around the perimeter, thoughts of what I enjoyed doing as a child crowd my mind. Playing on swings and slides, reading books, building LEGOs, baking pastries with my mom, and listening to American Top 40. And watching TV. I watched a lot of TV. Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood stayed my after-school favorites long after most kids graduated to other shows, but I loved the fantastical creatures and “make-believe” too much to turn away. As I sit on these now quiet and empty stairs, I re-imagine Mr. Rogers walking through the door, exchanging a jacket for a sweater, and outdoor shoes for indoor sneakers. Those gentle movements soothe both the former-child who needs to play and the grown-up who fears a future without playgrounds.
Field Notes: This flight leads right to a small playground in Sheraden Park. Looks lovely even if it’s all taped off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
Like watching videos? Check out PCTV21’s 100 Things to Do in Pittsburgh YouTube channel. Hosted by author and journalist Rossilynne Culgan, there’s even an episode where she interviews me about City Steps. When you’re stuck indoors and want to start planning warm-weather excursions, this series will do you right.
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.
