Trip #449 Planet Street, Elliott, Pittsburgh took place on May 25, 2020, and was published on June 12, 2020.
I take a seat on the mossy landing of the Planet Street stairs. I look up to where I need to go, and then down to where I’ve come from. It’s a Pittsburgh summer day, warm and humid, and the leafy canopy above provides a bit of coolness. This perch feels a bit like a private treehouse, and I lean my head back against the rail and close my eyes. The tension and sadness of the past week diminishes a bit, and I feel my shoulders relax. Into this quiet space, the sound of a man singing drifts up to my ears, and opening my eyes, I see he’s standing at the bus stop down below. He’s young and tall with ebony skin and sky blue scrubs. His face mask unable to stifle his steady and comforting voice. I don’t recognize the song, but it’s slow and strong, and for a moment, it feels like we’re the only two people on the planet—each of us finding comfort in the places and practices that give us hope.
Field Notes: This flight is right down the road from #448 and it is open all the way to the top. Another quiet spot off of bust Steuben Street.
See the Risograph print of this photo and story in the Mis.Steps Shop.
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 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.
