Laura Zurowski/Mis.Steps
@mis-steps.bsky.social
A hardy fool, living on a hill. Photographing and writing about Pittsburgh's city steps, parks, playgrounds, and greenways. Hails from divine Providence, RI. See more at mis-steps.com/blog/.
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Hello #Pittsburgh friends! If you ❤️ city steps, parks, playgrounds, and greenway trails, give a follow. Looking forward to sharing my thoughts, stories, historical tidbits, and photos with yinz. After 15 years on Twitter, it was a bit sad to break away, but life is too short to live w/o #PMA.
Schenley Park looms high above the area known as Four Mile Run (often called “The Run” by locals). In addition to the park, the neighborhood also lies below a segment of I-376 and the latest version of the Greenfield Bridge. 🧵
November 30, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Schenley Park looms high above the area known as Four Mile Run (often called “The Run” by locals). In addition to the park, the neighborhood also lies below a segment of I-376 and the latest version of the Greenfield Bridge. 🧵
The Hazelwood Healthy Active Living Center (HAL) building has a rather curious history. The structure was once part of the Glenwood car barn operated by the Pittsburgh Railways Company. 🧵
November 27, 2025 at 5:02 PM
The Hazelwood Healthy Active Living Center (HAL) building has a rather curious history. The structure was once part of the Glenwood car barn operated by the Pittsburgh Railways Company. 🧵
Magee Park is known for its community pool, but once the summer ends and children are back to school, the daytime vibe quiets down… but not entirely. Plenty of families live nearby, and parents and caregivers with toddlers take full advantage of the playground.🧵
November 23, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Magee Park is known for its community pool, but once the summer ends and children are back to school, the daytime vibe quiets down… but not entirely. Plenty of families live nearby, and parents and caregivers with toddlers take full advantage of the playground.🧵
While Greenfield has a few bustling streets, it’s primarily a residential neighborhood wedged between Oakland, Hazelwood, Squirrel Hill, and Schenley Park. As this is Pittsburgh, it’s hilly (LOL) but more importantly, it has a home-spun quality that reminds me of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. 🧵
November 20, 2025 at 3:28 PM
While Greenfield has a few bustling streets, it’s primarily a residential neighborhood wedged between Oakland, Hazelwood, Squirrel Hill, and Schenley Park. As this is Pittsburgh, it’s hilly (LOL) but more importantly, it has a home-spun quality that reminds me of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. 🧵
Hays Woods is Pittsburgh’s newest and largest park, and chances are, you’ve never even heard of it! Located at the far southeastern edge of the City on a bluff overlooking the Monongahela River, Hays is 626 acres of preserved greenway. 🧵
November 13, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Hays Woods is Pittsburgh’s newest and largest park, and chances are, you’ve never even heard of it! Located at the far southeastern edge of the City on a bluff overlooking the Monongahela River, Hays is 626 acres of preserved greenway. 🧵
Reposted by Laura Zurowski/Mis.Steps
Surprise! Nine Mile Run Trail is closing from Nov. 17, 2025 to Jan. 30, 2026 😬 – See options for getting around the closure here:
https://bikepgh.org/2025/11/05/nine-mile-run-trail-to-close-for-2-5-months-see-options-for-getting-around-the-closure/
https://bikepgh.org/2025/11/05/nine-mile-run-trail-to-close-for-2-5-months-see-options-for-getting-around-the-closure/
November 12, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Surprise! Nine Mile Run Trail is closing from Nov. 17, 2025 to Jan. 30, 2026 😬 – See options for getting around the closure here:
https://bikepgh.org/2025/11/05/nine-mile-run-trail-to-close-for-2-5-months-see-options-for-getting-around-the-closure/
https://bikepgh.org/2025/11/05/nine-mile-run-trail-to-close-for-2-5-months-see-options-for-getting-around-the-closure/
Another fun walking/photo exploration from Mitch Waxman. This time, he ventures over to German Square for city steps and freight trains.
newtownpentacle.com/2025/11/10/c...
newtownpentacle.com/2025/11/10/c...
Cage match, baby
Monday – photo by Mitch Waxman After ascending a set of City Steps back in Dormont and neighboring Beechview (as described last week), your humble narrator boarded a T light rail bound for Pi…
newtownpentacle.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Another fun walking/photo exploration from Mitch Waxman. This time, he ventures over to German Square for city steps and freight trains.
newtownpentacle.com/2025/11/10/c...
newtownpentacle.com/2025/11/10/c...
Reposted by Laura Zurowski/Mis.Steps
Before someone built the playground, invented the automobiles that rocket along Mifflin Road, and constructed the homes lining Hillburn Street, there were these railroad tracks. 🧵
November 10, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Before someone built the playground, invented the automobiles that rocket along Mifflin Road, and constructed the homes lining Hillburn Street, there were these railroad tracks. 🧵
Looking for some lovely South Side Slopes photos? Mitch Waxman has some beauties in this recent blog about exploring Sterling Street. He just happened to be wandering around the neighborhood on the day of the annual Step Trek. 😆IYKYK😆https://newtownpentacle.com/2025/10/29/styling-down-sterling-st/
Styling down Sterling St.
Wednesday – photo by Mitch Waxman First off, I had no idea that an event called ‘Steptrek’ was playing out on the particular day I took this walk, but it was. I’ve been slowly consuming Laura…
newtownpentacle.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Looking for some lovely South Side Slopes photos? Mitch Waxman has some beauties in this recent blog about exploring Sterling Street. He just happened to be wandering around the neighborhood on the day of the annual Step Trek. 😆IYKYK😆https://newtownpentacle.com/2025/10/29/styling-down-sterling-st/
The Veterans Memorial is located by the school’s front entrance, overlooking Mifflin Road, and the dedication marker is out back, next to the playground equipment. This separation strikes me as somewhat unusual, and I wonder if the two were originally together but then separated. 🧵
November 6, 2025 at 6:16 PM
The Veterans Memorial is located by the school’s front entrance, overlooking Mifflin Road, and the dedication marker is out back, next to the playground equipment. This separation strikes me as somewhat unusual, and I wonder if the two were originally together but then separated. 🧵
Looking to extend your Halloween celebrations with an outing to an appropriately gothic setting? You may find the lower end of McBride Community Park enticing. 🧵
November 3, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Looking to extend your Halloween celebrations with an outing to an appropriately gothic setting? You may find the lower end of McBride Community Park enticing. 🧵
New Homestead is on Pittsburgh’s southeastern edge, bordered by Hays and Lincoln Place and the boroughs of Munhall and West Homestead. According to the 2020 census, there are a smidge over 900 residents. Not a lot, but similar to neighborhoods like Spring Garden, Bon Air, or Regent Square. 🧵
November 1, 2025 at 12:22 AM
New Homestead is on Pittsburgh’s southeastern edge, bordered by Hays and Lincoln Place and the boroughs of Munhall and West Homestead. According to the 2020 census, there are a smidge over 900 residents. Not a lot, but similar to neighborhoods like Spring Garden, Bon Air, or Regent Square. 🧵
The Arlington Rec Center is sandwiched between South Side Park and Ormsby Playground in the South Side Slopes. While the center offers lots of programming for kids and adults, what’s really fascinating (IMHO) about this space is that from 1888 to the 1930s, it was the site of the St. Clair Incline.🧵
October 29, 2025 at 2:22 PM
The Arlington Rec Center is sandwiched between South Side Park and Ormsby Playground in the South Side Slopes. While the center offers lots of programming for kids and adults, what’s really fascinating (IMHO) about this space is that from 1888 to the 1930s, it was the site of the St. Clair Incline.🧵
The Oliver Bath House has been closed and under construction for so long now that many people who pass by as they travel the 10th Street Bridge may have no idea of its significance (beyond the traffic delays work crews have caused). 🧵
October 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The Oliver Bath House has been closed and under construction for so long now that many people who pass by as they travel the 10th Street Bridge may have no idea of its significance (beyond the traffic delays work crews have caused). 🧵
Hello Pittsburgh friends! What are you doing on Sunday? Why don't you stop by the 14th annual Pittsburgh Zine Fair! It's from 11am-5pm at the Kingsley Association at 6435 Frankstown Ave in Larimer/East Liberty. 🧵
October 18, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Hello Pittsburgh friends! What are you doing on Sunday? Why don't you stop by the 14th annual Pittsburgh Zine Fair! It's from 11am-5pm at the Kingsley Association at 6435 Frankstown Ave in Larimer/East Liberty. 🧵
Knoxville Incline Park is part of the South Side Greenway, and this section meanders along the old Knoxville Incline track. From 1890 to 1960, this curious form of public transportation (known in other parts of the world as a funicular) connected the South Side to Knoxville. 🧵
October 15, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Knoxville Incline Park is part of the South Side Greenway, and this section meanders along the old Knoxville Incline track. From 1890 to 1960, this curious form of public transportation (known in other parts of the world as a funicular) connected the South Side to Knoxville. 🧵
Most of Pittsburgh’s parks and playgrounds were built when the City was rapidly growing in population. By 1950, the 90 neighborhoods held ~677,000 people, compared to today’s population of ~307,668. This loss means many different things. On the positive side, it means MORE space per person. 🧵
October 12, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Most of Pittsburgh’s parks and playgrounds were built when the City was rapidly growing in population. By 1950, the 90 neighborhoods held ~677,000 people, compared to today’s population of ~307,668. This loss means many different things. On the positive side, it means MORE space per person. 🧵
While the Eleanor Street playground and park recently received a glow-up, one thing didn’t change: its very steep hillside location! If you’re walking (or biking) up or down Eleanor, you might think this is one of the City’s steepest streets, but SURPRISE! Eleanor is “only” a 12.2% grade. 🧵
October 9, 2025 at 2:49 PM
While the Eleanor Street playground and park recently received a glow-up, one thing didn’t change: its very steep hillside location! If you’re walking (or biking) up or down Eleanor, you might think this is one of the City’s steepest streets, but SURPRISE! Eleanor is “only” a 12.2% grade. 🧵
I visited Esser Plaza Park on a sunny weekday around noon, settling on a park bench with a coffee and savory treat from Delanie’s. As the city birds looked for fallen crumbs, I looked at the flowers artfully arranged in raised beds and planters. 🧵
October 6, 2025 at 2:22 PM
I visited Esser Plaza Park on a sunny weekday around noon, settling on a park bench with a coffee and savory treat from Delanie’s. As the city birds looked for fallen crumbs, I looked at the flowers artfully arranged in raised beds and planters. 🧵
The South Side Flats has experienced continuous change since King George III granted John Ormsby the land in 1763. And to further that tradition, two long-standing, much-loved neighborhood parks, Ormsby and its “little sibling”, Armstrong, are scheduled for a substantial refresh next year. 🧵
October 4, 2025 at 10:38 PM
The South Side Flats has experienced continuous change since King George III granted John Ormsby the land in 1763. And to further that tradition, two long-standing, much-loved neighborhood parks, Ormsby and its “little sibling”, Armstrong, are scheduled for a substantial refresh next year. 🧵
Armstrong Playground came to life at a time when many South Side residents worked in steel mills or other industrial enterprises. Surrounded by narrow, crowded streets, it was (and still is) a safe place for children to run around and socialize. 🧵 [Photos by Elton Schnellbacher, Historic Pittsburgh]
September 28, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Armstrong Playground came to life at a time when many South Side residents worked in steel mills or other industrial enterprises. Surrounded by narrow, crowded streets, it was (and still is) a safe place for children to run around and socialize. 🧵 [Photos by Elton Schnellbacher, Historic Pittsburgh]
Since 2001, the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association has welcomed urban hikers to explore this unique hillside community during StepTrek. This family-friendly event blends photography, local history, and the charm of a neighborhood built on steps. 🧵https://www.showclix.com/event/steptrek
25th Annual Pittsburgh StepTrek
Tickets for 25th Annual Pittsburgh StepTrek in Pittsburgh from ShowClix. Celebrate 25 Years of StepTrek! The Pittsburgh StepTrek is a self-guided walking tour through the historic public stairways of ...
www.showclix.com
September 27, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Since 2001, the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association has welcomed urban hikers to explore this unique hillside community during StepTrek. This family-friendly event blends photography, local history, and the charm of a neighborhood built on steps. 🧵https://www.showclix.com/event/steptrek
In the summer of 1863, the American Civil War was underway. It was a frightening time, full of uncertainty. To protect the Pittsburgh region from a possible attack, residents constructed 37 “earthen defenses” on hilltops with strategic viewpoints. To call them forts would be generous. 🧵
September 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
In the summer of 1863, the American Civil War was underway. It was a frightening time, full of uncertainty. To protect the Pittsburgh region from a possible attack, residents constructed 37 “earthen defenses” on hilltops with strategic viewpoints. To call them forts would be generous. 🧵