Trip #599 Glenroy Street, Carrick

Trip #599 Glenroy Street, Carrick, Pittsburgh took place on June 9, 2021, and was published on June 18, 2021.

A girl sits at the bottom of a short flight of stairs leading from a house to the sidewalk. Nearly identical homes and stairways line the block, but she’s the only person, other than myself, who is outside. She looks about 10, but something in the way she holds her book and little black patent leather pocketbook makes her appear much older. She looks like someone who often has to sit waiting. There’s a resigned honesty in her face that’s a bit haunting, and I want to say something light and cheerful to her as I pass by, but I don’t. Instead, I give her a small smile and a little wave, looking her in the eye as she returns the same. For a second, we come together, and then we part—walking and sitting, both of us waiting.

Field Notes: A quiet residential street in Carrick but the corner where the city steps are is a bit “under construction” – a house that maybe/kind of/sort of is being worked on, lots of overgrown weeds, and chipped cement. The Spectra makes it look a bit more gentle and accommodating than the reality.

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.