Trip #554 Freeland Street, Allentown, Pittsburgh took place on January 26, 2021, and was published on February 26, 2021.
As a kid, I was a bit of a sloucher, and adults always told me to stand up straight, stop looking down, stop “moping” around with my face to the ground. For healthy posture, proper spinal alignment, and open body language, this is generally good advice (even if it annoyed me as a disgruntled tween). Looking up and out allows us to see the horizon and the distance. We notice more of what’s coming our way or where we’re heading. This provides us with helpful information we can use to confirm our choices or change our course. But on the flip side, when we drop our gaze, we’re more likely to notice the various crumbles scattered underfoot. Here, we can discover a special kind of miniature beauty that is all but lost in the vast expanse of skyline and cityscape. The cracks and fissures, broken bits, and discarded shards also offer enchantment and inspiration – this entire universe awaits our exploration.
Field Notes: This long flight of sidewalk steps connects Arlington Ave to Mount Oliver Street. At the end of Freeland Street, there is an overlook (of sorts) that allows you to see over the hillside and beyond. Unfortunately, if you look down instead of out, you see lots of illegally dumped trash. 🙁 Boo-Hiss!
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.
