Trip #96 Heths Avenue to King Street, Highland Park, Pittsburgh took place on January 29, 2018, and was published on February 16, 2018.
If we left them to their own devices, kids would play with just about anything – sticks, leaves, rocks, dirt – you know, the objects that have been captivating minds since we lived in caves. But, humans with captivated minds like to tinker, so things like playgrounds exist. Slides and jungle bars, swings, and see-saws. I loved playgrounds as a kid, and the see-saw was my favorite. Gliding up and down through the air, released from gravity like an astronaut in outer space. Then the day came when the older kids figured out how to jump off their end just as their feet touched the ground. Daydreams of floating in space quickly (and painfully) came crashing down. It didn’t take long for me to move on to other activities – like digging holes in the dirt, searching for bugs, and collecting leaves.
Field Notes: Sidewalk steps right next to the neighborhood playground. Quiet neighborhood near Highland Park. Too cold and too early in the day for kids to be out!
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!!
