Venson Park, Beltzhoover: 700 Gearing Avenue
Venson Park is easy to overlook. In fact, it doesn’t even appear on Google Maps. Because of this omission, it’s easy to confuse it with the Gearing Community Garden, which is a few blocks away. But whereas the garden is bold and bright and a hive of action, Venson is tranquil and shaded, and decidedly more reserved in appearance. Perhaps the earlier designation of the space has something to do with it: This was the end of the line for the PAT 49 streetcar, and in this corner lot, the tracks looped around so it could head back into town.
As streetcars were decommissioned and people moved away, many original details became covered and overgrown. However, in 2014, the space was revived, and old elements, like the trolley tracks and Belgian blocks, were restored. Some new elements were added, including park benches and botanical embossed concrete edging, which you only notice if you sit down and intentionally look around.
While the streetcars are not coming back anytime soon, there are two bus stops at this intersection, so if you’re running early (or the bus is running late), there’s a quiet place to wait before the next leg of your journey begins.
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