Trip #538 East Warrington Ave to Industry Street, Beltzhoover, Pittsburgh took place on December 11, 2020, and was published on January 18, 2021.
As long as we’re human, we’re going to be imperfect. We’re going to be lopsided, with an idiosyncratic array of cracks, crumbles, and fissures. We’re not always going to get or give 100%. On some days, we’ll feel lucky to reach the half-way mark. Our efforts may not accomplish their intended goal, and even when they do, the effects may not be long-lasting. We know that tomorrow, there will be litter, empty potholes, and streets blanketed in snow. Dogs will still be barking, the buildings languishing, and come April, knotweed threatening to engulf us all. So in the meantime, focus on the community garden inhabited by a cluster of cheerful penguins, smile at the brightly colored handprints fluttering over the sidewalks, and wave hello to the folks excitedly gathered around a turkey fryer. It’s all wonderfully perfect in its imperfections.
Field Notes: These are my first city steps in the Beltzhoover neighborhood! It’s a very depopulated area – only about 25% the size of what it had been back in the 1950s, but there seem to be some community revitalization efforts happening.
Love city steps? Get yourself the latest issue of Mis.Steps: Our Missed Connections with Pittsburgh’s City Steps! Each copy is unique and features 10 randomly selected “trading cards” of Pittsburgh’s 739 public stairways. Visit the Mis.Steps online store to see all issues and place your order.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
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.
