Trip #58 Tell Street, Troy Hill, Pittsburgh took place on October 15, 2017, and was published on November 15, 2017.
The wind is kicking up, and brown and yellow leaves scuttle, scrape, and rustle along the concrete. One moment the skies are dark and threatening, but in an instant, it’s back to sunshine, warm and welcoming. At the top of the stairs is a deserted playground. Empty swings sway back and forth as if propelled by the ghosts of long-ago children, their memories carried in the wind, up and away. But like the weather, the quietude won’t last long. Come morning, the sounds of small humans will once again fill the air, running, jumping, swinging up and away. Collecting brown and yellow leaves that rustle along the concrete.
Field Notes: This section of the Tell Street stairs features a big long flight with curious “ruins” along the way. Playground and park at the very top. It was a cool breezy day and the wind was nice after the long climb!
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!!
