Trip #623 Ansonia Place to Saw Mill Run Road, Overbrook took place on August 6, 2021, and was published on August 16, 2021.
Receiving an advanced warning of challenging circumstances might not be welcome news, but placing yourself in a constructive mindset can help you prepare and perhaps minimize the impact. In this case, I knew the entrance to Ansonia Place from Saw Mill Run Road was a trifecta of unpleasantness: gated, overgrown, and filled with litter. So instead, I intentionally approached from the opposite direction: walking down a quiet, pedestrian-only path along the T and busway. Traveling this way took more time, but it was exponentially more enjoyable, with lots of curious bits, both natural and human-made, to investigate. As expected, the weeds, traffic, and trash were waiting for me at the end, but I was fortified and ready to greet them, and their negative impact was greatly reduced.
Field Notes: This segment of Ansonia Place is closed to vehicles – there is a gate separating it from Saw Mill Run Road. But, there are a few city steps on both sides – hard to see them now as it’s somewhat overgrown but I spied an old city planning marker!
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.
