55: Sheraden & Windgap

Unique Streets: 58

Miles Walked: 6.4

Street Names (italicized have been walked on another day): Surban Street, Adon Street, Francisco Street, Moyer Street, Allendale Circle, Lundy Street, Universal Street, Criss Street, Allendale Street, Apex Street, Felbinger Way, Stanhope Street, Ashtola Way, Faust Street, Bellevoir Way, Huxley Street, Allendorf Street, Stroud Way, Tweed Street, Canopolis Street, Trout Way, Faulkner Street, Furman Way, Fairdale Street, Fuller Way, Sutherland Street, Vania Way, Chartiers Avenue, Tuxedo Street, Fudge Way, Eliska Street, Ancora Way, Thayer Street, Swantek Street, Middletown Road, Evanston Street, Kedzie Street, Horne Street, Clearfield Street, Clearfield Place, Harrisburg Street, Evan Drive, Ladoga Street, Wynette Street, Fiscal Way, Faronia Street, Fire Way, Mutual Street, Briscoe Street, Bowser Way, Fadette Street, Pritchard Street, Kelvin Street, Humphreys Street, Petty Way, Jeffers Street, Hoover Street, Emporia Street, Sherwood Avenue, Jean Street

Today I found myself in Sheraden which is a neighborhood on the Western Side of Pittsburgh. I parked in Sheraden Park (there was a port-a-potty there) According to the Sheraden Pool Facebook page:

Originally a piece of farmland owned by William Sheraden, this 88-acre park was set aside for public use by the City of Pittsburgh in 1914 and has been a part of the fabric of the Sheraden community ever since. Situated in a wooded valley, quietly secluded from the surrounding streets, Sheraden Park includes picnic areas, ball fields, sports courts, a swimming pool and playgrounds.

Sheraden Pool Facebook Page

Two men were pouring concrete to fix one of the cement water drainage ditches on the border of the baseball field.

I made my way up towards the pool which was empty. I’m not sure if the pool is open at all during the summer. I have a feeling that it is not because of the multiple signs affixed to the fence and a waymarker sign at the top of the hill had a word whited out. I think that word might have been pool.

I walked up Adon Street and saw remnants of some large structure. I also saw the first of many TVs on my walk.

I walked on Allendale Circle and saw a kitty who was hamming for the camera.

More TVs

I walked the streets between Allendale Street and Chartiers Avenue and saw many strange things. This house had at least two holiday decorations up.

This house had ornamental trees hung with sparkly ornaments.

It also had a tree with a baby head and cacti at its feet.

Another TV.

I found this closed-off cemetery on Faust Way.

And some “stairs” that were surrounded by Poison Ivy.

A House has no Windows.

A garage dedicated to the Champagne of Beers.

Give it a chance.

At this point in my walk I started noticing a trend. There were many sets of stairs and almost all of them were impassable. This is important to remember for later.

The trifecta of trash on Tuxedo: Tires, TV, and Japanese Knotweed.

I also saw this cool skatepark.

Some chickens.

And this “road” that was covered in grass.

I also noticed this strange plane trail. It seemed like they diverted their course pretty severely.

Closed stairs. At least these ones let you know they weren’t good enough to be traveled on.

I realized that if I didn’t do some backtracking, I would miss Jean Street. I walked by the old Sheraden K-8 which is being turned into AMPAC: The Associated Master Plumbers of Allegheny County.

There’s also a neat raised garden there.

I walked Jean and had a feeling there might be some stairs that lead off of Fairdale down to the Pool. I was so happy when I saw these!

I spied a lone kitty in a yard as I proceeded down the stairs.

I started to get concerned.

The stairs were degrading in quality and the poison ivy- laced vegetation was encroaching on the walkway. I kept going.

I still kept going. I got to this section and stopped to contemplate the value of my life.

If I had been with anyone else, we would have been going all the way back up. Since I was by myself and there was no one to tell me not to, I scaled down the side of the steps while gripping the railing tight. I was hoping the whole time that the ancient rusty rail wouldn’t give away under my weight and fling me into the cement remnants and garbage.

I made it! I thought to myself that if my mom were alive, she would have grounded me for doing this.

I made it back to my car happy to be alive. I got in my car and on a recommendation by my friend Jim, I went to Smitty’s for lunch. I had walked by it and didn’t even realize it was a bar/restaurant.

I had a beautiful steak salad.

Relive ‘4/24/19’

Check out all of the pictures I took on Facebook or Google Photos.