Williams Memorial Reservoir & Park, Upper Hill, Pittsburgh, took place on July 10, 2022, and was published on July 12, 2022.
While the Robert E. Williams Memorial Park and Reservoir in Upper Hill is not the highest spot in the city (that honor goes to Montana Street in Perry North), its elevation affords a unique 360-degree experience of the surrounding landscape. Unlike Highland Park and its accompanying reservoir, Williams is low-key and secluded. There’s a small, modern playground and a well-preserved World War I memorial created by Frank Vittor (who also created the Honus Wagner statue at PNC Park). This plot of land has held a reservoir since 1880, and if you intentionally go looking for its history, it’s not hard to find. There are a few late-1800s bits, many more 1920s bits (when the city-wide water and sewer line work began in earnest), and less attractive bits with a more modern approach and design. Even though I thoroughly enjoy my often solitary walks around the city steps, perceiving myself as the only person wandering around this public park made me sad, so I decided to cut my visit short. No sooner had this thought crossed my mind when I looked up and spotted a man on a bike, slowly circling the reservoir’s upper track. As he reached the side facing East Liberty, he stopped and began to sing, and the word “Alleluia” slowly drifted down the hillside. Each syllable, each note danced like a leaf caught in the breeze. The sound was cool and refreshing, like the tiny drops of rain that began to fall, instantly washing my melancholy mood away.
Field Notes: The first in the new, “city steps in public parks” adventure. Fortunately, PGH DOMI now has the city parks data incorporated into their location map and that makes it all so much easier! 🙂 pittsburghpa.gov/citysteps/ The original build date of the reservoir was 1880 with significant work occurring in 1920. There are seven sets of public stairs that are a mix of new and old.
Love city steps? Get yourself the latest and FINAL issue of Mis.Steps: Our Missed Connections with Pittsburgh’s City Steps! Each copy is unique and features 10 randomly selected “trading cards” of the 739 public stairways referenced in Bob Regan’s Pittsburgh Steps book. 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 and trash were abundant in the area? Please take action and make our city steps cleaner and safer for everyone! Grab a photo if you can, and submit a report to Pittsburgh 311. All problems should be reported to the city. You can easily do this online or by calling. Thank you!!
