Trip #52 Ewarts Way, Terrace Village (Hill District), Pittsburgh took place on October 7, 2017, and was published on November 1, 2017.
There’s a shopping cart turned upside down in the weeds. I give it a tug to see where it’s from. Giant Eagle. This one’s a long way from home. How did it get here? This section of the Ewarts Way stairs has an opening, and a few steps lead down and away. Once upon a time was there a home tucked into the sloping hillside below Brackenridge? Nothing is apparent. No foundation, no brick or stone walls, nothing that indicates what or where these few steps originally led. The knotweed hides everything – except the shopping cart and most recent trash. Someone’s sneakers and t-shirts. Pop bottles. Plastic bags. Plastic bags. Plastic bags. It seems that things disappear from one place only to reappear in another. So where did the house on the hillside go?
Field Notes: The flight is the photograph is more than 56 steps – closer to 100 and right next to the New Light Temple. I’m wondering if there’s another flight that connects Centre to Breckendridge?? Can’t find anything on the various maps…
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!!
